From the Touchline

One of the biggest issues faced by elite footballers is the issue of identity. So much time and energy and investment — emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually — goes into the sport, that it can be difficult when our status or position in the game changes or comes to an end.

In today’s Lesson From Lasso, we talk about this issue of identity. AFC Richmond’s Roy Kent is having an identity crisis. All he knows. All he loves. All he cares about is football — and to imagine life without football, it’s overwhelming and daunting. Where ought our identity be? What do we do when our context changes and pieces and parts of our identity with it? Listen as I share from scripture what the Bible says about identity.

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 will always come a point when we need to have a tough conversation with someone. How do we have the “tough talks” and the “courageous conversations” with people? How do we enter into a place with people where we can bring our best even when they are faced with their worst?

In today’s Lesson From Lasso, we see AFC Richmond’s Roy Kent faced with a first in his career — being benched, the end of his career on the horizon. It’s a tough task that Coach Lasso is largely unsuccessful at and Kili is a little better in her approach. I share from a few places in scripture that I think can help us to have the tough conversation moments of life.

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.

Forgiveness. It’s massive when we receive forgiveness for something we’ve said or something that we’ve done. It can be like a massive weight comes off of our proverbial shoulders. But how many times should we forgive a person? Once, twice, seven times?

In today’s Lesson From Lasso, we quickly examine a parable that Jesus told about a servant who failed to forgive. He failed to receive the forgiveness that he was granted after being forgiven a massive cancelation of debt. Instead he turned around and was vengeful and spiteful with others. It give some insight into why Ted Lasso is able to forgive Rebecca for what she’s just confessed and come clean about. Listen to the podcast to find out more on forgiveness.

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.

Often times we confuse a simple apology with repentance. Repentance though is a process, a journey. It involves a “re-orienting” of one’s posture and position and going in the opposite (and right) direction. We see Rebecca make the long trek from her upstairs owner’s office to Ted’s coaching office to begin the process of apologizing and repenting.

In today’s Lesson From Lasso, I reference a parable that Jesus once told about two people — a tax collector and a Pharisee. You can find the story in Luke 18:9-14. this parable acts as our short lesson and illustration on the true nature of a meaningful repentance. Repentance is vital in football — we will always have those who wound and hurt us. And we will often be shown the follow of our own way. We have to make amends — with others and with God.

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.

In today’s Lesson from Lasso, we look at the work of Kili and Higgins to help Rebecca see that she needs to change. Higgins ends up quitting on the team and leaving his job. Kili, though, hard presses Rebecca to come clean to Ted Lasso. Kili’s posture and push of Rebecca is commendable and a lesson actually that is encouraged for Christians.

In this lesson, I encourage us to consider the moments and ways that we might need to effectively help someone to “turn” from a destructive path or from sinful or wrong behaviors. Whether you are a coach, an executive, or in a position without power and influence — we are all to work at reconciling and bringing about change. Listen to the podcast to hear more.

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.

In today’s Lesson from Lasso, I take a look at the issue of revenge. Rebecca, owner of AFC Richmond, is continually seeking the demise of her ex-husbands’ beloved club. However, she never seems satisfied or fulfilled with all her attempts and it is eating away at her and destroying others.

In this lesson, I take a brief look at how we are to take on others who attack us, accuse us, persecute and try to destroy us. The apostle Paul’s words to Christians in Rome offers us a great instruction on how we are to treat others and the other pathways that are away from revenge.

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.

Our final Advent antiphon and our last podcast for the year. O come, O come, Emmanuel — “God with us” is the title and name. First used by Isaiah as he attempts to encourage a king who was faced with pressure for all sides. Emmanuel is now a title that Christians associate with Jesus, as Messiah, as the Son of God who has come and who will come again.

On the podcast during this season of Advent we have been exploring themes within a particular ‘hymn’ that has helped worshippers prepare for Jesus’s arrival. Since the 8th century, the Church has been singing the “O” antiphons. An antiphon is a short sentence sung or recited before or after a psalm or canticle.

The “O” antiphons are so named as each line begins with an “O” — perhaps the most famous of these are the words and verse which begins: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Altogether, there are 7 antiphons. They are typically said or sung in the evening of the week (December 17-23) leading to Christmas, but for our intents and purposes, we will learn and hear one each week. A short reflection will be followed by the antiphon said and then sung.

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.

Christmas is almost here, just a few days remain. Today, we listen and reflect on the sixth and next to last antiphon: O come, Desire of nations… This title for the Messiah, for Jesus, begs the question: is he really the Desire of the nations? We look at the words of Haggai the prophet to learn more.

On the podcast during this season of Advent we have been exploring themes within a particular ‘hymn’ that has helped worshippers prepare for Jesus’s arrival. Since the 8th century, the Church has been singing the “O” antiphons. An antiphon is a short sentence sung or recited before or after a psalm or canticle.

The “O” antiphons are so named as each line begins with an “O” — perhaps the most famous of these are the words and verse which begins: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Altogether, there are 7 antiphons. They are typically said or sung in the evening of the week (December 17-23) leading to Christmas, but for our intents and purposes, we will learn and hear one each week. A short reflection will be followed by the antiphon said and then sung.

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 week, we can sense and feel that Christmas is drawing nearer. As listen and reflect on the fifth antiphon: O come, thou Daysprings, come and cheer… we look at this unique title that is given to Jesus through the words of Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist.

On the podcast during this season of Advent we have been exploring themes within a particular ‘hymn’ that has helped worshippers prepare for Jesus’s arrival. Since the 8th century, the Church has been singing the “O” antiphons. An antiphon is a short sentence sung or recited before or after a psalm or canticle.

The “O” antiphons are so named as each line begins with an “O” — perhaps the most famous of these are the words and verse which begins: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Altogether, there are 7 antiphons. They are typically said or sung in the evening of the week (December 17-23) leading to Christmas, but for our intents and purposes, we will learn and hear one each week. A short reflection will be followed by the antiphon said and then sung.

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.

We continue exploring the Advent Antiphons and the Western church has finally started the season of Advent with the second Sunday upcoming. This week, we look and listen to the fourth antiphon: O come, thou Key of David, come…

On the podcast during this season of Advent we have been exploring themes within a particular ‘hymn’ that has helped worshippers prepare for Jesus’s arrival. Since the 8th century, the Church has been singing the “O” antiphons. An antiphon is a short sentence sung or recited before or after a psalm or canticle.

The “O” antiphons are so named as each line begins with an “O” — perhaps the most famous of these are the words and verse which begins: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel. Altogether, there are 7 antiphons. They are typically said or sung in the evening of the week (December 17-23) leading to Christmas, but for our intents and purposes, we will learn and hear one each week. A short reflection will be followed by the antiphon said and then sung.

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.