From the Touchline

Recently I wrote a short article for Baylor’s Faith and Sport Institute on the Purpose of Chaplaincy and also was a guest preacher for Cornerstone Community Church in Greeley, Colorado. In both the writing and sermon preparation, I attempted to weave together three stories with very close parallels into what I believe are 5 caring movements that God demonstrates towards us and also asks us to imitate as we care for others. No matter if you are a chaplain or pastor or you work in a particular industry, this model of caring is one that we are called (as Christians) to imitate and make part of our life practice.

In today’s episode, I share movement 2: Drawing Near. In each of the three stories — Saint Martin, the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), and God with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3) there is a second movement where after seeing the need, there is an intentional drawing near, rather than running away. I point out the parallels between the stories and urge a challenge, that as Christians we can’t shy away from these kinds of moments.

From the Touchline is a short-feature podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

Recently I wrote a short article for Baylor’s Faith and Sport Institute on the Purpose of Chaplaincy and also was a guest preacher for Cornerstone Community Church in Greeley, Colorado. In both the writing and sermon preparation, I attempted to weave together three stories with very close parallels into what I believe are 5 caring movements that God demonstrates towards us and also asks us to imitate as we care for others.No matter if you are a chaplain or pastor or you work in a particular industry, this model of caring is one that we are called (as Christians) to imitate and make part of our life practice.

In today’s episode, I share movement 1, seeing the need. In each of the three stories — Saint Martin, the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), and God with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3) there is the first movement of God whereby the need or needy person is seen. I point out the parallels between the stories and urge a challenge, that as Christians we must see people in need.

From the Touchline is a short-feature podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

Recently I wrote a short article for Baylor’s Faith and Sport Institute on the Purpose of Chaplaincy and also was a guest preacher for Cornerstone Community Church in Greeley, Colorado. In both the writing and sermon preparation, I attempted to weave together three stories with very close parallels into what I believe are 5 caring movements that God demonstrates towards us and also asks us to imitate as we care for others.No matter if you are a chaplain or pastor or you work in a particular industry, this model of caring is one that we are called (as Christians) to imitate and make part of our life practice.

In today’s episode, I share the three stories — Saint Martin’s initial story, the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), and the OG story of God covering Adam and Eve (Genesis 3). I make some comments on the stories and set up a foundation for the five caring movements that can be seen between the three in future podcast episodes.

From the Touchline is a short-feature podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

For a bit of fun, you can try singing Soccer Psalm 24 to the tune of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” It might seem silly to set these words to music, but music helps us to remember, and there are some important things in our walk of faith to remember out of Psalm 24. First, we must remember that the earth is the Lord’s. Second, we need to understand our place in that world and in the presence of a holy God (thus the question of who is able to ascend?). In the realization that perfection is really unattainable, we realize that we have a widening gap that exposes our need. We cannot be perfect through our own power or in our own attempts. This is where we need Jesus. And so, Christianity has often taken the Warrior King language of Psalm 24 and applied it to Jesus. And I believe it helps make Soccer Psalm 24 a good little soccer and faith chant, too.

The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon which is also in Spanish, British English, Portuguese, and French. All books are available globally on Amazon and contain 31 psalms that have been translated into “soccer psalms” — with words, language, and metaphors that connect soccer to God’s Word. I also include some reflection on the context and writing as well as some questions for reflection. Check out the collection below:

The Soccer Psalms

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

There is a beauty to the Beautiful Game and much of it has to do with the rules and laws and order that has been established over time and with much testing and even a growth and evolution of the game of soccer. Today’s podcast features Psalm 19 and Soccer Psalm 19 which speaks about God, God’s Word, and Soccer.

Psalm 19 neatly presents such a “defense” to us about the nature of God and his law (the Bible). By the end of the psalm, the writer (David) is praying fervently and personally to God for his assistance in living a blameless life. It’s a great psalm for us to consider how (God’s) order leads to life and flourishing and we can pursue it in football, in faith, and in other aspects of life.

The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon which is also in Spanish, British English, Portuguese, and French. All books are available globally on Amazon and contain 31 psalms that have been translated into “soccer psalms” — with words, language, and metaphors that connect soccer to God’s Word. I also include some reflection on the context and writing as well as some questions for reflection. Check out the collection below:

The Soccer Psalms

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

Today on the podcast, it’s part two of my interview with special guest, Jeremy Tittle. Jeremy is a longtime soccer coach, former collegiate player, and current board member with Soccer Chaplains United. In this part of the podcast he talks about stepping away from coaching and understanding God’s call on his life for coaching was just for a season. He also shares his joys and vision for Soccer Chaplains United and we get a fun game of Crosses With Rev in.

From the Touchline is a short-feature podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

Today on the podcast, I am joined by special guest, Jeremy Tittle. Jeremy Tittle is a longtime soccer coach, former collegiate player, and current board member with Soccer Chaplains United. His coaching career has included head-coaching positions at Lees-McRae College and MSU Denver, along with assistant coaching experience at West Virginia and Midwestern State. Jeremy now works in the Denver area with Upper90 Properties and continues to invest in soccer and ministry. He serves on the Soccer Chaplains United Board of Directors and is also an elder at Denver Presbyterian Church.

In part 1, Jeremy and I talk about his origin story with soccer and how he came into coaching. Tune in next week for part 2.

From the Touchline is a short-feature podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

Today on the podcast, I take some time to offer up some reflections on the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. 9/11 is one of those days and moments in time when you certainly remember where you were when things transpired. I equate it to the more recent global pandemic. Certainly, there are some heroes around the events of the day — and many of them were the first responders who entered into the fray and chaos of what was going on.

In reflection, God is the first, First Responder — in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve have sinned and the fall has happened, it is God who walks into the fray and calls out to humanity. He then puts into action the plan to rescue and to save, and this happening in the person of Jesus who (as The Message puts it in John 1:14) moves into the neighborhood. I conclude with an encouragement and prayer for us as we face our own tower-collapsing, world shut-down moments in life.

From the Touchline is a short-feature podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

In professional soccer, there are all sorts of behind-the-scenes, backstabbing moments that go on. A coach who gets ousted, a technical director who is fired, an athlete who is set aside and more. Just as in Psalm 5, David reflects on the “ambush” moment and how God is on his side; how the Lord is there to support him, even in difficult moments when many might despair.

Are you headed in for that difficult out come meeting? Pray Psalm 5.

The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon which is also in Spanish, British English, Portuguese, and French. All books are available globally on Amazon and contain 31 psalms that have been translated into “soccer psalms” — with words, language, and metaphors that connect soccer to God’s Word. I also include some reflection on the context and writing as well as some questions for reflection. Check out the collection below:

The Soccer Psalms

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.

In the modern game of football, the supporter has a particularly strong voice. Often the fan’s voice is represented with their finance, other times by their social media influence, and other times the voice is presented with violence. The relationship between an ardent supporter and the football team can be a tenuous one at times. It mirrors often the human relationship with God — we deny authority, we rise up and rebel, and more.

Soccer Psalm 14 (as a reflection of Psalm 14) considers how the need for a response from the Owner (from God) against the foolish rebellion. God’s presence with the righteous and upright makes all the difference.

The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon which is also in Spanish, British English, Portuguese, and French. All books are available globally on Amazon and contain 31 psalms that have been translated into “soccer psalms” — with words, language, and metaphors that connect soccer to God’s Word. I also include some reflection on the context and writing as well as some questions for reflection. Check out the collection below:

The Soccer Psalms

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.