From the Touchline

Perhaps you’ve heard the adage — a house divided cannot stand. These words, spoken by Jesus a couple thousand years ago, play out in the rift that we see between members of the AFC Richmond team and Coach Lasso and Coach Beard have got to come up with a solution before it all unravels.

Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I reflect on the inability for teams, homes, and kingdoms or nations to continue to exist with sharp division — there has to be reconciliation, there has to be healing and repair. During Jesus’ earthly ministry he was accused of being on the same side as Satan — a ridiculous accusation and Jesus’ words are a reminder that a house divided against itself cannot last long. And this could be said for locker rooms as well.

Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show in its second season on Apple TV+ features the antics and quirky, ‘Ted Lasso’ character brought to life in his own TV show series. 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.

Tensions and fights happen in football — especially in the elite side of the game. There’s a lot at stake and a wide variety of sources and causes of division and struggle and more. What happens when the emotions and passion boil over and threaten to destroy the camaraderie and unity of a locker room?

Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I look at AFC Richmond going through this particularly difficult stages of group formation — one that teams often go through. A similar situation that Jesus faced with his own disciples — his rule wasn’t “No fight club” but rather one that went deeper into the heart and ethos of a group of people that were tied together into a common purpose and goal. It’s a unifying theme and spirit that we see at work in the church even today.

Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show in its second season on Apple TV+ features the antics and quirky, ‘Ted Lasso’ character brought to life in his own TV show series. 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 National Women’s Soccer League, the top league for women’s soccer in the US, begins their season with the Challenge Cup tournament this Friday as the Portland Thorns take on the OL Reign.

Today, on the Soccer Chaplains United podcast, From the Touchline I am joined by special guests — Lori Krueger, volunteer chaplain with NWSL side KC Current and the volunteer chaplain coordinator for the league, as well as Soccer Chaplains United’s very own — Christina Garber — the volunteer chaplain for the Portland Thorns. There’s much to discuss as women’s soccer has been in the news a lot in the past few months — for good things and for challenging things.

Also part of the pod, Lori takes on the Crosses From Rev game and scores an amazing 23 points to put herself into the top spot for the game (last played with Steve Guppy) all-time!

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.

What do you love? Who are you and how has God made you? Do you know those things? It’s a question that our friend Coach Ted Lasso asks of Reporter Trent Crimm in our latest and last look at episode three from season 1 of the Ted Lasso TV show.

Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I look at the ideas of vocation and passion and doing the things that we love to do and understanding how those things make us tick and how those things bring special meaning and purpose to the world and to our lives.

Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show in its second season on Apple TV+ features the antics and quirky, ‘Ted Lasso’ character brought to life in his own TV show series. 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 is Ash Wednesday and the time that the church and Christians around the world mark the beginning of the season of Lent and the 40+ days leading up to Easter.

Today, on the Soccer Chaplains United podcast, From the Touchline, we share the audio for our English Ash Wednesday video which you can find on our website, on the app, or on our YouTube channel. Let me encourage you — if you have 10 minutes — to check it out. In the video, Tacoma Defiance volunteer chaplain Jubal McDaniel reads and animates the text of Psalm 90 (The Message version). Paul Zach makes a special musical guest appearance with written and recorded Psalm 90. You can see more music by Paul Zach at https://www.paulzachmusic.com. Finally, I offer a reflection on Psalm 90 in the light of the Colorado Marshall fire devastation a few months ago and a virtual imposition of the ashes.

We also have a Spanish video and audio podcast going out today as well.

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.

Hoy es Miércoles de Ceniza y el momento en que la iglesia y los cristianos de todo el mundo marcan el comienzo de la temporada de Cuaresma y los más de 40 días previos a la Pascua.

Hoy, en el podcast de Soccer Chaplains United, From the Touchline, compartimos el audio de nuestro video del Miércoles de Ceniza en español que puede encontrar en nuestro sitio web, en la aplicación o en nuestro canal de YouTube. Permíteme animarte, si tienes 10 minutos, a que lo compruebes.

El video presenta al Reverendo Isidro Piña. Isidro, capellán voluntario de Rio Grande Valley Toros FC y pastor de la Iglesia Metodista Unida El Buen Pastor en Edinburg, Texas. Isidro comparte un mensaje poderoso y una meditación del Salmo cincuenta y uno, reflexionando sobre la contrición de David cuando el profeta Natán lo confrontó con su pecado.Músicos invitados especiales, la Banda de Alabanza EBP de El Buen Pastor comparten sus dones y talentos cantando y tocando la canción, el Corazón de la Adoración.

También tenemos un podcast de audio y video en inglés que saldrá hoy.

From the Touchline es un podcast de corta duración (10-15 min) con el reverendo Brad Kenney, fundador y director ejecutivo de Soccer Chaplains United y capellán voluntario de Colorado Rapids de la Major League Soccer.

El reverendo Brad y los invitados ocasionales abordan varios temas relacionados con la fe, la familia y el fútbol (fútbol).

Además, no olvides que puedes escuchar en nuestra aplicación, SoccrChapUtd, en la tienda de Apple y Google.

Major League Soccer, the top flight for US football, kicks off the league season this weekend and while it’s super early compared to other years, we can blame it on the World Cup.

Today, on the Soccer Chaplains United podcast, From the Touchline I am joined by a couple of special guests — Rev Billy Cerveny, volunteer chaplain with Nashville SC and Troy Ready (or Rev Ready) as we come to know, co-chaplain of the Portland Timbers. We take a look back at our team’s 2021 and look ahead to what may be in store for the 2022 season in this special MLS Preview.

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 is a rare thing in football that a good idea originating from an unlikely source would ever get praise or appropriate credit. Usually, it’s a dog-eat-dog world with managers, executives, and even footballers fighting for every advantage in the elite circles — so when a new play comes from the mind of AFC Richmond’s kit man, Nate Shelly, one would think it to be just the opportunity that Coach Lasso needs to gain credibility in the eyes of owners, reporters, and fans — but Lasso surprises us.

Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, we look at the humility of Coach Lasso to give credit where credit is due and to actually recognize the work and ideas of others around him, rather than taking the credit (and any accompanying glory or accolades for himself). If there is something that football needs sorely it is giving credit where credit is due — even if it comes from unlikely sources and places.

Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show in its second season on Apple TV+ features the antics and quirky, ‘Ted Lasso’ character brought to life in his own TV show series. 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, Rev Brad looks 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.

Can a football manager or a football player really be unconcerned with wins and losses? Teams rise and fall with wins and losses. Contracts are offered or extended based on performances. Scholarships and other opportunities come as the result of the results. Who would dare be unconcerned with wins and losses at the elite levels and echelons of the game?

Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, in our Lessons from Lasso series I scrutinize a bit of Coach Lasso’s claim (season 1, episode 3) to Reporter Trent Crimm of not being too worried about wins and losses — it seems a bit of an idealistic thing to say. But can someone in football really have such an attitude or approach?

Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show in its second season on Apple TV+ features the antics and quirky, ‘Ted Lasso’ character brought to life in his own TV show series. 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, Rev Brad looks 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 January transfer window just closed on Monday, and with it a host of player movement around the world. Hundreds of trades and loans were executed and millions of dollars exchanging hands. And with every deal done, a new beginning with a host of hopes and dreams and expectations to go along with it. What is the secret to facing new beginnings? What stories of old might inform us for the new challenges to be faced and new lands to be conquered amongst the football transfer landscape?

Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I take a look at the biblical life story of Caleb. At the ripe age of 40 he was ready to take on the challenge of a new beginning, but not everyone on the team agreed and they pretty much held him back. But then, again at 85, his goals and dreams were still unfulfilled and he goes with passion and energy and drive to take on new opponents and conquer new lands — for those in football facing a new beginning we can learn a lot from Caleb.

Here are links to Scriptures mentioned in today’s podcast:

Here’s a link to the book with today’s blessing:

To Bless the Space Between Us by John O’Donohue

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.