From the Touchline

In football, soccer, many fans whose favorite teams are in the throes of relegation and promotion or playoffs, have their hopes dashed and come crashing to the ground. When the team doesn’t have a good season, there are consequences for going down into an inferior tier of soccer. When a team doesn’t produce any winners or any trophies, there are consequences for everyone involved.

In today’s Lesson From Lasso, we watch as Coach Ted Lasso confronts this attitude and cliché phrase that “It’s the hope that kills you…” which is articulated by several AFC Richmond fans and even the footballers themselves. We look at the Christian concept of hope and what hope in Jesus means, especially for those who are used to being let down before.

Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show on Apple TV+ features the antics and quirky, Coach ‘Ted Lasso.’ Lasso first appeared a number of years ago as a comedic character as NBC purchased the broadcast rights to the English Premier League. Played by Jason Sudeikis, Lasso (as a coach) brings change to the difficult football (soccer) team that he has traveled overseas to coach.

In the ‘Lessons from Lasso’ series, I (Rev Brad) look at some of the different life learning points brought up in the show from a chaplain’s point of view.

From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 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’s actually a number of reasons for Roy Kent to struggle to love Coach Ted Lasso. And maybe this is even the case for some of us when it comes to loving God. There’s likely things that have happened to us in life. There are hard things that God asks us to do. These are challenges in our relationship with God and even with ourselves.

In today’s Lesson From Lasso, we look at the exchange between Coach Lasso and Captain Roy Kent in the opening scenes of episode 10, season 1. For me, there are some reminders to a tough love conversation that Jesus has to have with one of his best friends and disciples, Peter. We take a look at John 21:15-19 and some of the lessons that we can learn and some of the truths we can know out of Jesus’ dialogue with Peter.

Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show on Apple TV+ features the antics and quirky, Coach ‘Ted Lasso.’ Lasso first appeared a number of years ago as a comedic character as NBC purchased the broadcast rights to the English Premier League. Played by Jason Sudeikis, Lasso (as a coach) brings change to the difficult football (soccer) team that he has traveled overseas to coach.

In the ‘Lessons from Lasso’ series, I (Rev Brad) look at some of the different life learning points brought up in the show from a chaplain’s point of view.

From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 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.

Ritual is rare in the Western culture and context and while there are things that are unique and specific to football, not even in the Beautiful Game are many times where rites of passage are happening, or are happening well.

In today’s Lesson From Lasso, we look at Nate ascending from kit-man or clubhouse attendant to the role of assistant coach. The ceremony and celebration and elevation of Nate get connected into a night when Jesus demonstrates and models for his best friends, a way of serving and a way of honoring one another. Jesus gets down and dirty as he washes his friends feet and then encourages them to do the same.

Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show on Apple TV+ features the antics and quirky, Coach ‘Ted Lasso.’ Lasso first appeared a number of years ago as a comedic character as NBC purchased the broadcast rights to the English Premier League. Played by Jason Sudeikis, Lasso (as a coach) brings change to the difficult football (soccer) team that he has traveled overseas to coach.

In the ‘Lessons from Lasso’ series, I (Rev Brad) look at some of the different life learning points brought up in the show from a chaplain’s point of view.

From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 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.

It’s Holy Week, and in years past I’ve spoken on the podcast about “Spy Wednesday” and the devious and dubious work of Judas to set up the betrayal of Jesus. But this year, I want to give a different view to the day/night and see what is happening to Jesus. In fact, this particular moment may have been the “last straw” for Judas and prompted him to sell out Jesus.

Today on the podcast, I take a look at Jesus being anointed during the evening meal the week before he goes to the cross. What does his anointing have to do with us in soccer a couple thousand years later? Well, we will get into that, as well.

We look at Matthew 26:6-13, if you want to follow along.

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.

Who doesn’t love a good victory parade? The music, the ticker tape, all of it — no matter the sport, fans and followers seem to enjoy celebrating alongside their sports heroes a good victory. In soccer, the same is true. But for Christians, as we approach this upcoming Sunday (Palm Sunday), it’s a victory celebration that doesn’t last long (at first glance).

Today on the podcast, I take a look at Jesus’ “triumphal” entry in to Jerusalem. As he enters into the city for what will be one of the last times of his earthly life, he draws the celebratory crowds. I offer some reflections that we might take away for ourselves — whether we’re marching or riding in a victory parade formation or not. All of this and more, 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 upcoming weekend, MLS Next Pro kicks off season three. Today, on the podcast, I am joined by special guests: Jubal McDaniel (chaplain to the Tacoma Defiance and Soccer Chaplains’ United’s very own Pacific Chaplain Manager) and Jonathan Hyde (chaplain to Chattanooga FC). Each of these guys is a volunteer chaplain with Soccer Chaplains United and serving a MLS NEXT Pro team. Today we’ll take a look at the 2024 season that lies ahead as well as some of the unique features and challenges for each of their teams.

And because it’s Jonathan’s first time on the pod, we will get in a fun game of Crosses with Rev.

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.

Is the chaplain a team’s good-luck charm? Does the chaplain somehow have some “direct-line connection” to God? What happens when both teams have a chaplain? What happens when the other team doesn’t have a chaplain and they win? What does this say about the chaplain, the team, or about God?

We start off the pod with a short little audio clip from my away trip a couple of weeks ago. As I sat with the chaplains watching the game we exchanged some fun little banter and teasing (note: we don’t really believe that the Lord hears our prayers over or above anything that isn’t in His will or plan or purpose). Sometimes, though in sport, we can become extremely superstitious and especially if we connect anything tangible that we say or do to any outcome that is successful or counts as a win.

On today’s podcast, we take a look at the idea of superstition that can occur in sport and especially around religious or faith elements — like prayer or a chaplain — that may be present. What do we do with ideas of superstition? How are we to engage or not to engage? All of this and more is coming 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.

Last week, Major League Soccer (MLS) kicked off — this week, most teams that were on the road are hosting their first home match for 2024. The same is true for the Colorado Rapids (my club) and in today’s podcast, I reflect a little bit on the theme and idea of home.

A few years ago, I read a wonderful little children’s story entitled, The Trip to Panama. In it, two characters, Little Bear and Little Tiger set out to find the “land of their dreams.” They end up making a round about circle and end up at home again, but it’s in the journey that they undertake that the learn a lot about themselves, about what the “land of their dreams” really looks like and also what their friendship means.

As you listen, today, I draw also on some biblical passages that illustrate and resonate with the lessons that Little Bear and Little Tiger learn. I hope you’ll give a few minutes to hear these reflections and to also hear an adapted blessing for home.

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.

As a volunteer chaplain entering my 23rd season with the Colorado Rapids, I have come to find an important rhythm to start a season. You might find it strange, but Deuteronomy 20 has become, for me, an important reference point as I bless athletes, coaches, and others involved in the Beautiful Game.

If you’re not familiar with Deuteronomy 20, in the spring time, the nation of Israel has the priests come out and bless those who will be engaged in defending and fighting for the lands need to sustain the people. As untrained, non-professional soldiers, Israel needed to depend upon God in the face of more powerful opponents and overwhelming odds. They needed to be reminded that God is with them and He was fighting alongside of them.

In my many years as a chaplain (and I set this up in today’s podcast a bit), I have come to understand that Deuteronomy 20 has some application for the very people that I serve. So give a listen and hear my case for Deuteronomy 20 as a practical place and point of blessing for the MLS soccer season which is very quick to begin.

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.

It’s a curious pairing that doesn’t happen very often, but this year Ash Wednesday and Valentine’s Day occur on the same day. For 2024, February 14th will commingle Christian themes of repentance of sin with expressions of love and this may not be as strange together as it might seem at first!

If you don’t know much about Ash Wednesday, it is the start to the season of Lent. It is the day that kicks off 40 days before Easter (excluding Sundays). Lent is a season characterized by three Christian disciplines that help prepare one’s heart to fully celebrate the awesomeness of the resurrection of Jesus.

Valentine’s Day, too, is an important day. Of course, today, it has been commercialized and turned into a big money-maker. Many people expend a lot of money and energy toward cards, candies, flowers and gifts for loved ones. But Valentine’s Day originally started as a feast day in the Christian church to commemorate a couple of saints who gave of their lives for they faith and expressed love to people in really difficult situations.

I actually think there’s a strange, but real beauty in celebrating both days at the same time. Thanks for giving the podcast a listen to hear and understand more.

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.