From the Touchline

In a new series entitled, The Technical Area, Rev Brad shares some specific applications for certain biblical passages that help apply faith to football in simple, practical ways.

Today’s lesson, is on Luke 13:6-9. Here, Jesus shares a parable with his disciples and thousands of others crowded around. Contextually, he’s relating this into repentance and getting relationships right. The parable that Jesus shares has some practical applications as we sometime will have to deal with damaged, diseased, or dying kinds of relationships in our lives — whether on the pitch, in the locker room, or at home.

In this episode, Working on Flourishing, Rev Brad shares some insights for the text that he often shares with people in soccer as they deal with relationship issues. After hearing a talk several years ago by Dr Henry Cloud, Rev Brad has continued to use the wisdom of the parable found in Luke 13 to help people in soccer in navigating the often difficult complexities of relationships within a team and organization in soccer.

Special friend and coach, Ross Paule (currently coaching Creighton Women’s Soccer) is our guest introducer today.

The Technical Area is a new series and part of the From the Touchline podcast with Rev Brad Kenney. Rev Brad is Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. He 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, which you can find in the Apple and Google store.

In this installment of our Lessons from Lasso series, we see Coach Lasso taking on Rupert Manion in a game of darts at the local pub. At stake? The ability to set the lineup if Manion wins or staying away from the owners box if Lasso wins. Just before his last throws and eventual win, he tells a story of a quote he came across, “Be curious, not judgmental.” But as Christians, aren’t we supposed to be just a little judgmental?

In this lesson, I take a look at how Christians need to balance curiosity and judgement. I Corinthians 5:12-13 and the apostle Paul help gives us a framework for learning how and when we ought to judge as Christians.

Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show is about to being its third season 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.

Season 1, Episode 8 and our 54th Lesson from Lasso, we examine our good friend, Danny Rojas. His positive, bubbly spirit is infectious and he has just shared with Kili that he wants to get into business giving away joy for free. Seem impossible? For some yes, but for those that follow Jesus, joy is part of our experience, even in times of difficulty.

Jesus promises his joy — a complete joy coming into the lives of his followers and friends as they stay rooted and connected into Jesus and his love. Joy is something, too, that God experiences. Listen to the podcast today, to learn more about getting into business with joy.

Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show is about to being its third season 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.

Today, Lesson #53, we take a brief look at John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. What does it take to build a successful enterprise? Team? Person? The late John Wooden was a successful basketball coach who was also a life-long learner. He looked to build and develop the character and person of the athletes that he coached and this led him to building out a “Pyramid of Success.”

Whether you agree with Wooden’s attributes and their arrangement, it can be a helpful exercise to look into some of the different characteristics and to ask whether those are part of your make-up and character or whether they might be developed more fully in your life.

If you’re an executive or coach who is interested in learning more about the John Wooden Pyramid of Success, you can enroll in courses to learn more about utilizing the pyramid as a framework for leading your organization or team. Here is a link.

Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show is about to being its third season 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.

Unity is important in football. Whether in the locker room or the board room, a unified group is what is needed to achieve the goals and aspirations that lie before a football club. But more than just football, it’s important to have a group of people around us that can celebrate our wins and comfort us in our losses, too. For Coach Ted Lasso, the “Diamond Dogs” represent a group of peers that can help Lasso see things about himself that he cannot see. We all need some “Diamond Dogs” in our lives.

Psalm 133 speaks to a group of people living in unity. Where is unity in your life? Whom can you go to in a time of trouble and need? What about in a time of joy? Today, in our Lesson from Lasso series, I share more about the importance of such a group and such a support structure.

Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show is about to being its third season 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.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup is soon to wrap up. The From the Touchline podcast has felt a little different the past few weeks as we’ve been going through Soccer Chaplains United’s new devotional book, Five Women You Meet in Faith and Football with a look at the lives of five women who appear in Jesus’ lineage — Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.

In this final week, we meet Mary. One of the wonderful attributes of Mary is that she is receptive to the news that the angel brings her. There would be great adversity with being pregnant outside of marriage for her — but she responds to this news in a wonderful way and sets an example for all of us. Her response is contrasted against Zechariah’s in a way that demands a bit of reflection and study. Let’s consider her receptivity, today.

Click here to get a copy of Five Women You Meet In Faith and Football.

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.

As we celebrate the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the From the Touchline podcast feels a little different. We’ve been going through Soccer Chaplains United’s new devotional book, Five Women You Meet in Faith and Football. This five-week, daily devotional looks at the lives of five women who appear in Jesus’ lineage — Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.

This week, we meet Bathsheba. The author of II Samuel 11 describes her as “exceedingly” beautiful. Sometimes we don’t feel beautiful. I know — I was ashamed of my body type and size for many years of life. Footballers, too, often have many self-image issues that they have to deal with. Some are internal and some are external. Today, we look at the issue of beauty and how we can reflect a God-given sense of beauty. Our faith should help us think differently about beauty.

Click here to get a copy of Five Women You Meet In Faith and Football.

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.

As we celebrate the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup for the next few weeks, the From the Touchline podcast will feel a little different. It will feature a devotional reading from Soccer Chaplains United’s new devotional book, Five Women You Meet in Faith and Football. This five-week, daily devotional looks at the lives of five women who appear in Jesus’ lineage — Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.

This week, we look at Ruth, specifically at how hard Ruth works. Ruth has a great work ethic. So much so, that she likely puts some of the locals to shame. Footballers put in a lot of hard work — but those that have a good work ethic tend to rise to the top. There are times though when it’s hard to put in a good shift — others look down on us, oppress or abuse us, or our hard work seems to go unnoticed. How can we better cope and maintain a good work ethos — on and off the field? Today, we get at the best way to tackle this issue.

Click here to get a copy of Five Women You Meet In Faith and Football.

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.

As we celebrate the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup that is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zeland for the next few weeks, the From the Touchline podcast will feel a little different. It will feature a devotional reading from Soccer Chaplains United’s new devotional book, Five Women You Meet in Faith and Football. This five-week, daily devotional looks at the lives of five women who appear in Jesus’ lineage — Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.

This week, we look at Rahab. Rahab is brave. In the face of extreme opposition and high stakes, she hides the spies and sends the king and his soldiers on a wild-goos chase. As a footballer, are you brave? On the pitch? Off of it? What about as coach or manager? Do you have players that exhibit bravery?

Click here to get a copy of Five Women You Meet In Faith and Football.

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.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off today! We wanted to share about the new Soccer Chaplains United devotional book, Five Women You Meet in Faith and Football. This five-week, daily devotional looks at the lives of five women who appear in Jesus’ lineage — Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. We encourage you to get a copy (ebook or print) of the book and read it throughout the 5 weeks of the tournament.

Click here to get a copy of Five Women You Meet In Faith and Football.

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.