From the Touchline

Injuries are common place in sports, especially in professional soccer. I recently sat with an athlete before surgery and it got me thinking back to the various surgery centers, hospitals, and other clinics where I have been present with people before this often difficult moment in one’s career. Whether it’s the waiting room of a surgery center or the post-op recovery room, there are many places where, as a chaplain, the only thing that you can really bring is the presence of God and the power of prayer.

In today’s edition of From the Touchline, I share about how prayer and faith can help the athlete before, during, and after an injury. I reference Diane M Wiese-Bjornstal’s article, Christian beliefs and behaviors as health protective, resilience, and intervention factors in the context of sports injuries. Also, don’t forget that our app has a recorded prayer for an athlete who is about to go for surgery!

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.

Well, I recently moved office. It didn’t take long—two-three trips to move a couple miles away— but I was certainly in a funk. I don’t like change. Moving is hard (for me), even if it’s just a short ways away. It’s likely more to do with change or dealing with the unexpected. It begs the question: how we do you and I travel?

Professional sport has a lot of travel that comes with it. There are different ways that a person travels and lives life out of a suitcase and these tend to also display trends that we have when it comes to the other movement that we have in life. Beyond the traveling personality types (that I talk about in the podcast) there are some other principles that I think help us to travel well and I share those in today’s edition of From the Touchline.

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.

This is the last in our series on mental health that we’ve been talking about through the month of May. How can one’s faith inform and help heal and sustain our mental health challenges and struggles? The story of Jesus encountering two disciples on the road to Emmaus, found in Luke 24:13-36, is a story where we can pull some lessons out of and realize what Jesus is calling us out of and into as he journeys with them.

Today, our final two lessons in part four of this series. Previously I shared that, 1) Jesus draws near to us in our grief and loss; 2) we’re often blind or disoriented; 3) Jesus asks the questions and listens; 4) we are invited to share our story and experience in our own terms; 5) Jesus exhorts and explains about himself; 6) and we ought to retain rhythms of hospitality and generosity even in the midst of our grief (not shying away from people as we often want to do in such moments.

In our final lesson we see Jesus leading the disciples in the common pattern and practice that he has done so many times in taking bread, blessing it, breaking it — here the disciples “see” him and are transformed. Finally, they run back into community and Jesus enters in and declares his peace for them, for those assembled (and for us).

I recently preached a sermon on this subject that you can view here on the Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church YouTube channel there might be some different stories or insights that you pick up here that aren’t in the podcast — whatever is helpful.

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.

May is mental health awareness month. Mental health is an important issue in sports and especially elite level soccer. As a chaplain, I believe that Christian faith can help with mental health challenges and struggles, but I think sometimes we don’t understand or see the different stories and tools and resources that are needed or necessary for having our faith help inform or heal our mental health challenges. One scriptural text in the Bible that I believe can help us is Luke 24:13-36.

Today, as I have been all month long, I want to share two lessons with you in part three of this series. This builds on the previous lessons that we’ve covered, namely, 1) Jesus draws near to us in our grief and loss; 2) we’re often blind or disoriented; 3) Jesus asks the questions and listens; 4) we are invited to share our story and experience in our own terms.

Today’s first lesson sees Jesus exhorting and challenging us and then explaining everything about himself. I am sometimes surprised that the disciples still don’t see Jesus at this point, but I get it…it happens. The second lesson that we see is that we ought to retain as much as we can in such moments that are good aspects of our lives — generosity, hospitality, and so one — no matter what mental health issues we are going through, the invitation of the disciples will be key to seeing Jesus eventually.

I recently preached a sermon on this subject that you can view here on the Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church YouTube channel there might be some different stories or insights that you pick up here that aren’t in the podcast — whatever is helpful.

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.

May is usually carries an emphasis on mental health. Mental health is a massive issue in professional sports, especially soccer. So, as a chaplain, I have been asking, “how can we integrate more of our Christian faith so that it helps with our mental health?” I think certain texts in the Bible stand out to help us more and Luke 24:13-36 is one of my favorites.

Today, I share two lessons in part two of this months feature. The first lesson notes that Jesus asks good questions and then, he listens. This is an oddity to most of our human experience. People struggle to ask good questions and truly listen, especially to our own personal pain. The second lesson that we see is that we can and should be authentic to ourselves and our pain and grief or mental health issues we are going through. We aren’t always right in our assessments of our own situations, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t tell our story in our way, with our language and be authentic with ourselves — remember Jesus is listening. He cares!

I recently preached a sermon on this subject that you can view here on the Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church YouTube channel there might be some different stories or insights that you pick up here that aren’t in the podcast — whatever is helpful.

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.

I have podcasted before on The Emmaus Road as a biblical text that helps us to make sense of grief, but as Luke 24:13-35 is one of my favorite texts, it has grown on me a bit more with some new and different insights and I wanted to revisit it again during this month of May. May is usually an emphasis on mental health and mental health is a massive issue in professional sports, especially soccer. So how can we integrate more of our Christian faith and belief with aides and helps with our mental health? I think certain texts in the Bible stand out to help us more.

Today, I share two lessons in part one of this months feature. The first lesson might be simply stated that God is always making the first move and coming toward us. Secondly, we might be blind (emotionally, spiritually, etc) for any number of reasons, but that doesn’t mean that God isn’t with us or near. I recently preached a sermon on this same subject that you can view here on the Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church YouTube channel.

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.

Psalm 137 is one of those parts of the Bible that can make someone cringe if we don’t look deeper into the text and historical context…known as an “imprecatory psalm” is calls about a curse for a particular city and its people. Can we do that as Christians? It’s a little bit longer of a reflection and meditation on today’s podcast, but where the Bible says “Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks…” I have translated it for soccer as, “Blessed is the club that steals your academy athletes…” Listen in to learn more about how we ought to see ourselves and God in the midst of evil.

The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon. (You can also find The Football Psalms-a British version-if you appreciate the different terms around the game). Both 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 book below:

The Soccer Psalms: https://mybook.to/thesoccerpsalms

The Football Psalms: https://mybook.to/thefootballpsalms-uk

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.

Psalm 134 is a song that would have been sung by worshippers as they were leaving the temple in Jerusalem and are blessing the Levite workers who remain there readying the temple for the next day. In the Soccer Psalm version from my recent book, I’ve imagined Psalm 134 to come out like a song we might sing with the stadium cleaners and security guards as we leave the home ground with a victory and a sense of joy in our hearts. How can we bless those who work in these common spaces and share the joy of the Beautiful Game with these “less seen” people? That’s what we are talking about on today’s podcast.

The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon. (You can also find The Football Psalms-a British version-if you appreciate the different terms around the game). Both 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 book below:

The Soccer Psalms: https://mybook.to/thesoccerpsalms

The Football Psalms: https://mybook.to/thefootballpsalms-uk

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, we look at Psalm 22 in both the Bible and the Soccer Psalm from my recent book. Psalm 22 is the most-oft quoted psalm in the New Testament. All four Gospel writers talk of Jesus saying the opening lines from the cross. The psalm gives language to a person who feels alone and abandoned. In soccer, it doesn’t take much for an athlete to feel this way or even a coach. We can feel like we are alone in much of what we are trying to do, but are we ever truly alone if God is part of our lives? We look at this and more.

The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon. (You can also find The Football Psalms-a British version-if you appreciate the different terms around the game). Both 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 book below:

The Soccer Psalms: https://mybook.to/thesoccerpsalms

The Football Psalms: https://mybook.to/thefootballpsalms-uk

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, we continue going through The Soccer Psalms. I read the 2nd Psalm and Soccer Psalm from my recent book, and offer a reflection and mediation on understanding that there is evil in the world. How do we reconcile that evil with a God who is supposedly “good”? And the fact that this good God created the world and everything in it? Psalm 2 helps remind us that there is One in Jesus who rises above the kings and kingdoms of this world and the corruption inherent within and we are to follow Him.

The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon. (You can also find The Football Psalms-a British version-if you appreciate the different terms around the game). Both 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 book below:

The Soccer Psalms: https://mybook.to/thesoccerpsalms

The Football Psalms: https://mybook.to/thefootballpsalms-uk

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.