From the Touchline

Caedmon had an interesting start to life — his desire and passion didn’t match his skill and ability. He wanted to sing. He wanted to recite poetry. He wanted to share in the communal musical and lyrical moments of his day. But he couldn’t. Couldn’t sing, he was off key. He couldn’t play the harp. To his shame he would run and avoid those moments which had become a heavy embarrassment for him.

What do you do when confronted with something you love, but aren’t very good at it? Can God somehow transform it? Can God use you to carry His song, His message to the world, even if you’re tone deaf and can’t remember the words?

Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I look at the life of Caedmon of Whitby. The man who couldn’t hum or sing a tune, but became one of the first poets in English history and beloved of the people because he learned the scriptures and sang them in their own native tongue.

What’s interesting about Caedmon’s life is how closely it mirrors a story from the life of Moses — tune in to hear more.

Scripture references from today’s episode include:

Books and Resources referenced in today’s podcast:

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 many places around the world, football season has already begun, but here in the U.S. and in a few other nations, the new season is yet to begin. Just last week Major League Soccer joined the other professional leagues in the U.S., announcing a tentative start date for the 2021 season.

For years, prior to the beginning of a season, as a chaplain, I have stepped forward to bless — athletes, coaches, staff, and those who are part of the game prior to the season start and to share with each of them a critical message — not just for the season ahead, but for life.

Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I look at a passage in Deuteronomy 20 where the priests of Israel come forward to bless those who would battle during the spring to try to retain and recover the farmlands for the year to plant and harvest. Taking a lead from this passage, I encourage reflection and lessons for those in football as one’s season is about to begin.

Special thanks to Dennis Castillo for permission to use his Instagram photo for today’s podcast artwork.

Scripture references from today’s episode include:

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 consequences of sin are some times the thing we fear most — no it’s not the confrontation or the confession — sometimes when that happens we feel lifted, lighter. It’s almost a relief when the truth comes to life. However, when we have the short and long-term consequences of sin that we have to face — those things can be painful, hurtful, and we might wonder if we will ever recover

My best mate, Fraser Keay, concludes the month of January with the last parts of one of his published biblical monologues. He narrates a time in King David’s (Israel) life when he abused his kingly power and fell from God’s grace. Today, in parts 5 and 6, we see David learn about the consequence of his sin, but an amazing promise that is filled with hope.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Fraser Keay (“Kay”) lends his voice and creative talents in the biblical monologue narrative: The Abuse of Power and the Grace of God: A Biblical Monologue Featuring David, King of Israel, Two Years after Murdering Uriah and Taking Bathsheba as His Wife. The narrative is written and recorded by Fraser and used with permission.

At the end of today’s episode, Rev Brad rejoins with some questions for reflection and a prayer. This narrative is based on the biblical text found in the book of Samuel.

To see or read more from Fraser — he has a few published books and audiobooks available on AmazonSmile. You can visit his author page here. Remember that when you purchase through AmazonSmile and designate Soccer Chaplains United as your charity of choice, .5% of your purchase price is gifted to us!

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.

We all need truth-tellers in our lives — you know, a person who isn’t afraid to tell you like it is, ready to call you out when you start to go astray. And this can be hard — to be confronted with the truth. What is your response when that happens? Do you get defensive? Are you stoic and unwavering? Or, is there a sense of sadness and repentance when you realize you’ve sinned, messed up, made a mistake?

My best mate, Fraser Keay, continues to share with us during the month of January through one of his published biblical monologues. He narrates a time in King David’s (Israel) life when he abused his kingly power and fell from God’s grace. Today, in parts 3 and 4, we see David confronted with his sin and watch and hear his response.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Fraser Keay (“Kay”) lends his voice and creative talents in the biblical monologue narrative: The Abuse of Power and the Grace of God: A Biblical Monologue Featuring David, King of Israel, Two Years after Murdering Uriah and Taking Bathsheba as His Wife. The narrative is written and recorded by Fraser and used with permission.

At the end of today’s episode, Rev Brad rejoins with some questions for reflection and a prayer. This narrative is based on the biblical text found in the book of Samuel and also on Psalm 51. Rev Brad references a couple scriptures in his reflection at the end which is hyperlinked (website) below:

• II Samuel 10-12
• Psalm 51
• I John 1:9
• James 5:16

To see or read more from Fraser — he has a few published books and audiobooks available on AmazonSmile. You can visit his author page here. Remember that when you purchase through AmazonSmile and designate Soccer Chaplains United as your charity of choice, .5% of your purchase price is gifted to us!

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.

Have you ever sinned, or messed up really bad, and then you tried to “cover it up”? How did that go? How long until it was discovered or you were found out? How far down the rabbit hole did you go trying to cover up one lie or sin with another and another?

My best mate, Fraser Keay, joins us during the month of January to share one of his published biblical monologues. He narrates a time in King David’s (Israel) life when he abused his kingly power and fell from God’s grace. This story is powerful. Today, in part 2, we look at David’s sin and subsequent coverup — which just unravels more and more.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Fraser Keay (“Kay”) lends his voice and creative talents in the biblical monologue narrative: The Abuse of Power and the Grace of God: A Biblical Monologue Featuring David, King of Israel, Two Years after Murdering Uriah and Taking Bathsheba as His Wife. The narrative is written and recorded by Fraser and used with permission.

At the end of today’s episode, Rev Brad rejoins with some questions for reflection and a prayer. This narrative is based on the following biblical text found int he book of Samuel and Rev Brad references a passage of scripture in his reflection at the end which is hyperlinked (website) below:

To see or read more from Fraser — he has a few published books and audiobooks available on AmazonSmile. You can visit his author page here. Remember that when you purchase through AmazonSmile and designate Soccer Chaplains United as your charity of choice, .5% of your purchase price is gifted to us!

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.

At what point do you and I become apathetic? Whether it has to do with our football, our family and relationships, or even our faith — we all face times in our lives when we lose sight and lose hope and become lazy and indifferent toward these crucial things in our lives.

My best mate, Fraser Keay, joins us again during the month of January to share one of his published biblical monologues, this time narrating King David’s abuse of power and fall from grace. This story is powerful, as we look at the danger of apathy in our vocation or, more dangerously, towards God and towards others.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Fraser Keay (“Kay”) lends his voice and creative talents in the biblical monologue narrative: The Abuse of Power and the Grace of God: A Biblical Monologue Featuring David, King of Israel, Two Years after Murdering Uriah and Taking Bathsheba as His Wife. The narrative is written and recorded by Fraser and used with permission.

At the end of today’s episode, Rev Brad rejoins with some questions for reflection and a prayer. This narrative is based on the following biblical text:

• II Samuel 10-12

To see or read more from Fraser — he has a few published books and audiobooks available on AmazonSmile. You can visit his author page here. Remember that when you purchase through AmazonSmile and designate Soccer Chaplains United as your charity of choice, .5% of your purchase price is gifted to us!

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.

Have you ever thought to put Jesus’ disciples into a starting 11? What formation would you use? Would you put Simon Peter as a 6 or as a 9? Well, that’s just a little bit of the fun that we have with our special guest, Coach Brian Shultz on the From the Touchline podcast. Brian is the Head Coach for Valor Christian High School’s Boys and Girls Soccer teams.

In today’s episode, we hear a bit about Brian and Rev Brad’s relationship and how Brian came to know the Lord. We also hear how Brian works to incorporate faith and football as a long-time club and high school soccer coach.

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.

I said it last week — “There’s a lot of talent amongst our chaplains.” Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, Billy Cerveny sings and plays the classic Christmas carol, O Holy Night.

Billy is volunteer chaplain with Nashville SC and the founder of Redbird in Nashville. Billy has been part of the Nashville music scene for many years before going into the pastorate and into chaplain work. His music is self-described as,

If you hated country music and only had one country record it would probably be mine…

As Billy sings, O Holy Night, I hope that it helps you — where ever you are to ready your heart for Christmas. I think that many of us are waiting, this year especially, for Good News and a breaking through of the Light.

At the end of the podcast, I share a prayer, usually prayed as Christmas eve turns to Christmas morn. You can find the prayer in one of my favorite books, Celtic Daily Prayer, pages 236-237.

• Celtic Daily Prayer

Also, I want to share with you some of Billy’s sharing to his Redbird followers and friends:

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 is a lot of talent amongst the folks that comprise the chaplain corps of Soccer Chaplains United. Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I feature an original song composed and recorded by Benjamin Dudley, volunteer co-chaplain with the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer.

Ben is the longest tenured chaplain with Soccer Chaplains United (going back to 2010) and part of his story and person involves a love and skill with music.

Ben’s song, Everything Is All Right With Me, with lyrics from friend Rob Grant, is a fitting song not only for a year that feels lost to a global pandemic, but in the difficult world of soccer where athletes and coaches and others in the game often put up a front, a farce — to get through and to get by.

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.

This weekend, the Seattle Sounders and Columbus Crew face off in the 2020 Major League Soccer Cup Final. Well, it was 10 years ago, that I had the privilege to accompany the team where I serve as volunteer chaplain, the Colorado Rapids, to Toronto, Canada for the 2010 championship match against FC Dallas.

Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I reminisce and share a couple of memories that I have from my time with team during that championship time so many years ago.

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.