From the Touchline

Mephibosheth’s life is about to change — he’s leaving the old behind for something new. He’ll have to say goodbye, but he will be welcomed in, adopted, made as a son into a new family. Have you ever had this happen to you? Football, in many ways, feels like family. The world of football is a small, tight-knit community (even with it being a global game). Some of the best stories in football, are the stories of restoration and renewal — whether a footballer, a manager, or at some other place in the beautiful game. Walk along with Mephibosheth one last time and consider the parallels in his life with yours.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad’s best mate from seminary, Fraser Keay (“Kay”) returns to lend his voice and creative talents for a final time while Rev Brad finishes a month long sabbatical. The Kings Table: A Biblical Monologue featuring Mephibosheth, Son of Jonathan, Who Went From Ruin to Royal Court, is narrated by Fraser. At the end of the episode, Rev Brad rejoins with some questions for reflection.

For more on Mephibosheth, you can read his story in the Bible. He appears in II Samuel 4:4, 9, and 21:7.

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 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.

Have you ever been about to walk into a meeting that might be your last? Maybe it was a review as an employee, an end-of-season meeting as an athlete, or the chairman’s office — what went through your mind as you were about to walk through the doors? Did the hammer fall? Or, was it something different? Did it happen or turn out the way you thought it would?

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad’s best mate from seminary, Fraser Keay (“Kay”) returns to lend his voice and creative talents in a third installment of a biblical monologue narrative while Rev Brad takes a month long sabbatical. The Kings Table: A Biblical Monologue featuring Mephibosheth, Son of Jonathan, Who Went From Ruin to Royal Court, is narrated by Fraser. At the end of the episode, Rev Brad rejoins with some questions for reflection.

For more on Mephibosheth, you can read his story in the Bible. He appears in II Samuel 4:4, 9, and 21:7.

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 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.

It can be difficult to watch others go on to glory while we wait in the wings, injured or out of the starting lineup. When last we saw our friend Mephibosheth, he was reflecting on the successes of King David — and his own family and life was in shambles. When we see and experience these things in life, it can leave us feeling forgotten, irrelevant — relegated to a life we never would have dreamed or wished.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad’s best mate from seminary, Fraser Keay (“Kay”) returns to lend his voice and creative talents in a second episode of a biblical monologue narrative while Rev Brad takes a month long sabbatical. The Kings Table: A Biblical Monologue featuring Mephibosheth, Son of Jonathan, Who Went From Ruin to Royal Court, is narrated by Fraser. At the end of the episode, Rev Brad rejoins with some questions for reflection.

For more on Mephibosheth, you can read his story in the Bible. He appears in II Samuel 4:4, 9, and 21:7.

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 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.

Have you been “crippled” by football? We don’t often use the word nowadays because it is politically incorrect and insensitive to name or call a person crippled; however, a person may have crippling injuries — physical, mental, and spiritual from football. During the next few weeks, we will journey with a special person from the Bible whose life has some interesting parallels for those in football — whether athlete, coach, staff member, or fan.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad’s best mate from seminary, Fraser Keay (“Kay”) lends his voice and creative talents in a biblical monologue narrative while Rev Brad takes a month long sabbatical. The Kings Table: A Biblical Monologue featuring Mephibosheth, Son of Jonathan, Who Went From Ruin to Royal Court, is narrated by Fraser. At the end of the episode, Rev Brad rejoins with some questions for reflection.

For more on Mephibosheth, you can read his story in the Bible. He appears in II Samuel 4:4, 9, and 21:7.

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 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.

When was the last time that you really rested? When did you last “get off the grid” or completely and totally “shut-down”? The ideas and concepts of sabbath, sabbatical and rest may seem like foreign concepts to you and me or something that we absolutely can’t do in our current place in the journey or station in life.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad reflects on his upcoming, month-long sabbatical and some of his own struggles that he has encountered in trying to take a sabbatical. He looks at the way that God has setup and designed human beings in their need for sabbath rest.

Notable mentions in today’s podcast:

— Scripture: Exodus 20:8-11, NIV; Exodus 23:10-11, NIV; Matthew 11:28, NIV

— Books: Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook

From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10-12 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).

Don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccChaplain, in the Apple and Google store.

December for footballers in the US is often the time to have that off-season surgery that has been put off. It’s also a time when other folks, too, are looking to get that surgery now that the insurance deductible for the year has been met. It can be a difficult time filled with uncertainty and long, painful hours leading up to and after a physical repair.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad looks at biblical reference to a healing remedy during Bible times while reflecting on the balance between trusting in God for healing and relying on the wisdom, skill, and knowledge of the medical profession.

Notables mentioned in today’s podcast:

— Scripture: Jeremiah 8:22, NIV; Psalm 139, NIV (inspiration for the prayer)

— App: SoccChaplain

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From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10-12 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).

They say dogs are man’s best friend and today’s podcast touches on a best friend who has traveled with the Kenney family for the past seven years. For many people in and around football pets have an important place — they are helpful companions on the journey. Pets, especially dogs, can lift an athlete who has had a difficult day at training or lost a match, nuzzle up to the manager after a long day of coaching or watching film, or even give things like a calming or protective presence for a spouse and family during the travel rigors of a season.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad and special guest, daughter Danielle Kenney, reflect on the recent loss of their family pet, Reverend — a golden retriever. Reverend passed away a week ago and is the first family dog for the Kenney family.

It was a difficult time for each member of the family, but in today’s podcast Rev Brad reflects on the loss and how a dog like Reverend can help point one to God.

Notable mentions in today’s podcast:

— Scripture: Genesis 1:24-25, NIV; James 1:27 NIV

— People: Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Brigid of Kildare

— Books: Ray Simpson, Celtic Blessings: Prayers for Everyday Life.

— Music: All Things Bright and Beautiful

From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10-12 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).

Don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccChaplain, in the Apple and Google store.

Sport, especially the sport of soccer, is increasingly filled with more and more pressure. Pressure to perform, pressure to leave family, pressure to succeed, and more. Part of the work of Soccer Chaplains United is to look to care for the entire person that is involved in the game — whether an athlete, a coach, executive, or staff member, and even fans — our aim and mission to provide chaplaincy and counseling support that can care for the entire person and their family.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad and Counselor Brooke Ewert have a recorded conversation about chaplaincy and counseling and some of the different approaches and challenges that come with trying to work together and connect the two.. Brooke is the Director of Counseling for Soccer Chaplains United and also has her own practice, Rocky Mountain Sports Counseling. Rev Brad Kenny is the Founder/Executive Director and Lead Volunteer Chaplain for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer.

Connection points mentioned in today’s podcast:

Ownership/Management/Leadership looking into chaplaincy or counseling for your soccer club, team, or organization? Send us an email to [email protected].

Athlete/Coach/Executive or Staff Member looking for counseling resources or support? Send an email to [email protected].

Athlete/Coach/Executive or Staff Member looking for counseling resources or support? Send an email to [email protected].

Looking to join Soccer Chaplains United either as a chaplain or counselor? Check out our application on the main page or send an email to [email protected].

From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10 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).

Don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccChaplain, in the Apple and Google store.

Being thankful has a tremendous impact on our own spiritual and mental health and well-being. No matter one’s circumstances, there is always something that we can give thanks for, something that we can be grateful for. And when that focus is off of one’s self it can help foster greater sense of gratitude and even impact things like one’s self-esteem.

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad and special guest Brooke Ewert reflect on the impact of gratitude and how this can affect even elite, high-level athletes. Brooke is the Director of Counseling for Soccer Chaplains United and also has her own practice, Rocky Mountain Sports Counseling.

Notable stories or resources mentioned in today’s podcast:

— 5 Kernels of Corn Thanksgiving Tradition

— Goal-setting as a means of generating thanks

From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10 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).

Don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccChaplain, in the Apple and Google store.

Family. You can’t choose them. But ancestry is important — and we have ancestral pieces to other parts of our lives, as well. For example, we have an ancestry to our vocational lives — whether as footballer, coach, or chaplain there are people who have helped shape and form who we are today. In a similar way we have a spiritual heritage, a spiritual ancestry that is important to consider. Who are the people who have had an impact on your faith journey? Who has impacted your view on God and this world?

In today’s From the Touchline episode, Rev Brad reflects on ancestry of these different types and encourages a practice of reflecting on the people (and even events) that have shaped — both positively and negatively — our families, our work lives and our spiritual ancestry, as well.

Notable outside resources mentioned in today’s podcast:

Resource #1: Fredrick Buechner, quote on vocation found in Wishful Thinking

Resource #2: Anthony Hudson podcast Masterminds, 17 October with Tom Bates

From the Touchline is a short-feature (usually 10 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).

Don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccChaplain, in the Apple and Google store.