From the Touchline

And who is my neighbor? This age-old question has been bandied about a lot with varying responses, but perhaps it has never been more critical for Christians and especially for Christian footballers to wrestle with the question and understanding, who is my neighbor? Sometimes in football/soccer, because of the global nature of the game and because of the diverse settings in our locker rooms and sport, we can feel that we’ve somehow arrived or that we don’t need to go deep in talking about “neighbors.”

In today’s From the Touchline episode, we are going to look at Jesus’ answer to this question, Who is my neighbor?, and how in reframing the answer to the definition of “neighbor” not only did his teaching radically shake the people of his day, but ought to also radically shake us, as well.

Below are links to content or scripture that I mention on today’s podcast.

• LinkedIn Article/Post
• Forever Pure Documentary
• Luke 10:25-37
• Matthew 22:34-40

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 murder of George Floyd has sparked global outcry. And Floyd’s death has touched professional footballers and many other people of color who have felt or experienced, themself, the oppressive spirit and injustice when others held power or sway.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, I share a personal story and experience with racial reconciliation and the need for people to self-examine — hearts, and attitudes and prejudices that we carry toward other people. And this is a beginning point for reconciling to people who have been mistreated and unjustly impacted because of their skin color and other reasons. There is a strong importance for people and especially followers of Jesus to not remain silent on this issue any longer.

Below are resources used or mentioned in today’s podcast.

• Celtic Daily Prayer
• The Diary of an Old Soul

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.

Right now, if you’re like me, you’re probably tired of all things Coronavirus — it can feel consuming, depressing, and more. Even as things in the U.S. begin to re-open and start to phase a return, there are likely still a lot of questions that are in your heart and mind — will school happen in the fall? Will sports resume? What will life look like on the other side?

In today’s From the Touchline episode, I want to introduce a woman to you, with that hope that from her story we might gain some encouragement and strength to persevere through this global pandemic time. We may live in different parts of the world and our governments and health officials and sports organizations may have varying responses to the pandemic, but we can learn a lot from this lady and her story.

Below are the scripture verses that read or mentioned on today’s podcast.

• Mark 5:21-43
• Matthew 9:18-26
• Luke 8:41-56

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 the midst of Coronavirus, there is a rising divide that is becoming more and more apparent. Sides are being taken on how one ought to respond to restrictions and the pace of re-opening local, national, and global societies and economies. The divide seems to be widening as people pick sides — Democrats against Republicans, mask wearers against non-mask-wearers, social distancers against non-social distancers.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, I make a bit of a stronger exhortation and statement for people who identify as Christian. As Christians, we are called to be more than “keepers,” we are called to love. And in today’s podcast, I visit how God wants us to act and think towards one another in the midst of these trying times.

Below are the scripture verses that I read or mention throughout the podcast.

• Genesis 4:1-14
• Matthew 5:43-44
• Luke 10:25-37
• Matthew 22:34-40

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.

Part of the uniqueness of the beautiful game is the game is in constant motion. There is little stopping of play and there is a fluidity to the athletes and official that are on the field. Especially for the midfield position, there is a lot of running that goes on. Data analytics have tracked averages around 7 miles in a typical soccer match — with some players running as much as 9.5 miles in a game.

On today’s From the Touchline podcast episode, Wells Thompson is our special guest. Wells is a now-retired midfielder who played for many years — in college for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons and then for Major League Soccer professional clubs New England Revolution, Colorado Rapids, and Chicago Fire before finishing out his career with the lower division sides Charlotte Eagles and Carolina Railhawks. Wells and I visit about his time in the game and the things that he is doing since retiring, including ultra marathoning.

In his nearly 10 years of professional soccer, Wells has run a lot of miles and today we wanted to highlight Wells as he runs again for clean water in Africa. Wells is partnering with with Hydrating Humanity (a nonprofit that provides clean drinking water, hygiene education and hope to the people of Kenya and Tanzania) to raise $50,000 by running 24 hours straight on May 15th-16th. You can help by supporting his 24-HOUR RUN 4 CLEAN WATER, (click the link) or go to hydratinghumanity.org. Other ways you can help include running, walking or biking for a portion of the 24 hours and asking other people to financially support for each mile you complete! You can also, spread the word and let others know on social media and in person! 

Below are links to scripture references that are comprised within the prayer at the end of the podcast and a few other links mentioned by Wells and myself during the podcast:

• Wells Thompson (wikipedia)
• Proverbs 4:12
• Isaiah 40:31
• I Corinthians 9:24-26
• Galatians 5:7
• Philippians 2:16
• Hebrews 12:1

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, available in the Apple and Google store.

In football, there are many places where one’s career may take them — across international borders and all around the world. The shoes that we wear as we travel that journey in football (soccer) can become muddied and grimy with the difficult situations and circumstances that we walk through. It might be a failed tryout, a sketchy contract, an abusive coach, a failed relationship, a season-ending injury, a career-ending injury, or something more. In all our travels, our shoes which may have started out white, pristine and glowing (perhaps a metaphor for our hopes, dreams, and confidence) can end up being bruised, broken, and down and dirty.

On today’s From the Touchline podcast episode, I am joined by special friend and guest, Greg Dalby. Greg is First Assistant Coach with Penn State Men’s Soccer and he has played professionally in Europe and the U.S. after a successful high school and collegiate career in the game. Greg also served for many years as a board member for Soccer Chaplains United and brought wisdom and insight into how our organization might better serve the needs of athletes and coaches that are part of the beautiful game of soccer.

Below are links to scripture references and a few other links mentioned by Greg and myself during the podcast:

• Greg Dalby (wikipedia)
• Psalm 51:7
• Isaiah 1:18
• Deuteronomy 8

Another resource that wasn’t mentioned on the podcast, but may be of interest is Henri Nouwen’s book Return of the Prodigal Son. It examines the parable told by Jesus in Luke 15:11-32. It is a parable that speaks about journey and redemption. Check the book out here:

The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming, by Henri Nouwen

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, available in the Apple and Google store.

Last week, our From the Touchline podcast, special guest, Rev Billy Cerveny, Nashville SC Chaplain and I started to look at the new Nashville SC anthem, Never Give Up On You, by Judah and the Lion. We continue the conversation today and take a look at the rest of the song.

One of the key themes in scripture that we see from God, from the very beginning is that He never gives up on us, on His people. It’s an important message to hear today — as football (soccer) clubs and programs across the country and the world face economic uncertainty, layoffs, furloughs, closures, and dissolving — whether an athlete or front office staffer or part-time stadium personnel, you might have felt that your employer has “given up on you” but God will not give up on you!

Below are links to the anthem, the scripture references and a few other links to get to know Billy and his work with Redbird:

• Never Give Up On You, by Judah and the Lion
• Buy the song here (Apple Music)
• Philippians 1:6
• Psalm 103
• Psalm 23
• Ecclesiastes 4:12
• Isaiah 40:31
• Billy Cerveny on Spotify
• Redbird Nashville (Billy’s ministry)

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, available in the Apple and Google store.

Nashville SC is a new, expansion franchise in Major League Soccer for 2020 and they have written a new supporter anthem. The anthem, entitled, Never Give Up On You, is written and performed by Judah and the Lion, an alternative band out of Nashville and ardent supporters of the Nashville SC team.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, I am joined by special guest, Nashville SC Chaplain, Rev Billy Cerveny. Over the next couple of episodes we are going to take a look at the Nashville anthem from a chaplain’s point of view — commenting on different parts of the song and the parallels we see in scripture and how we see a fingerprint message from God to His people. The message? I’ll Never Give Up On You. Billy also shares insight into Nashville culture and how this anthem might resonate amongst Nashvillians.

Below are links to the anthem, the scripture references and a few other links to get to know Billy and his work with Redbird:

• Never Give Up On You, by Judah and the Lion
• Buy the song here (Apple Music)
• Galatians 3:26-28
• Isaiah 49:15-16, from The Message
• Billy Cerveny on Spotify
• Redbird Nashville (Billy’s ministry)

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, available in the Apple and Google store.

As the COVID-19 global pandemic continues on, the challenges of lockdown and quarantine confront all of us. Whether you are an introvert or extrovert, a person of faith or a person of no faith — these are challenging times to live through.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, I look at three different S’s that are likely present and a challenge for all of us in varying ways right now. Stillness. Solitude. Silence. It’s likely that we feel burdened or stressed by these things, when in truth they are actually a gift if we can become aware of it and if we can learn something of what God might be wanting to show us as people or as communities or as cultures.

Today, I talk a lot about the enneagram. You may or may not be familiar with this personality tool. I would encourage listeners to take a moment and understand their Enneagram type as a potential helpful reference for some of the language that I use in the podcast today.

Below is the main book that I reference in the podcast and the scripture verses that I mention at the end.

• The Sacred Enneagram: Finding Your Unique Path to Spiritual Growth, by Christopher L. Heuertz
• Psalm 46:10
• Luke 5:16
• Isaiah 30:15
• Mark 6:30-32

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 we are in the midst of Holy Week — Palm Sunday is a fading memory and Easter is soon to come. But this year, around the world will look and feel very different from past Easter celebrations given the global pandemic that we are facing with Coronavirus. Many will have to remain at home. Church buildings will sit empty. The normal festive time for Christian people will be muted in many places.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, we are taking about the feeling of captivity that many are and have been feeling under lockdown. Especially for people living in Colorado and the US, where we are so used to our freedoms and being able to go where we want to go, when we want to go, there are some heard lessons that we are faced with. It is, perhaps, the closest sense of captivity for people that might be felt.

But how do we understand our captivity?

Below is the link to the scripture verses I mention in today’s episode.

• Revelation 7:9-10

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, SoccChaplain, in the Apple and Google store.