From The Touchline | Soccer Chaplains United

Today’s Nations and Devotions podcast features a prayer for the nations of Mexico and South Africa. Both teams have the amazing opportunity to open up the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. El Paso Locomotives FC Chaplain Mike Richards prays for these two nations and offers a reflection from Psalm 23. Today’s special hashtag is #mexicoandsouthafrica for the Nations and Devotions sticker challenge. Make sure to use #soccerchaplainsunited and #soccerpsalmsworldcup with your social media posts. Join us again tomorrow for another special day and time of prayer throughout the World Cup! From the Touchline is a short-feature 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 on the podcast, I am joined by former Aberdeen Football Club Chaplain Pastor Barry Douglas. Barry, born in Scotland, raised in South Africa before he returned home, shares his story of coming to faith and beginning in ministry all the way to planting a church in Aberdeen, to his new work today with Northwest Orlando. It’s a fantastic story that we don’t have time for it all, so we will have to have him back. Barry and I also get in a fun game of Crosses with Rev where I learn to pronounce “cullen skink.” From the Touchline is a short-feature 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 on the podcast, I am joined by Founder and CEO of Surge International — Dave Irby. Many years ago, God took the unlikeliest of people and burdened Dave for doing mission. It was a call that he couldn’t escape and led him to working with several sports ministry organizations before founding and starting Surge. Surge International ministers through soccer to help with different needs present with many different people groups. You can learn more through their website. Dave and I also get in a fun game of Crosses with Rev. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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 our final podcast for the month of May looking at mental and spiritual health. Today, from the Gospel of Mark 5:1-20, we see the fragile mental state of a man besieged with demons. Jesus heals him. During the podcast we look at the condition of the man and contemplate how often times we dismiss stories like this as fantastical and too amazing to maybe even be true; however, the truth is that many of us are driven into dark, isolating places with our own “demons” (spiritual or not). While the posture of the people from the surrounding towns looks promising, the resources offered in the past aren’t really restorative of helpful, only the power of Jesus can truly heal the man. We need this power in our own lives, today. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Continuing to look at mental, emotionally and spiritual health issues, we turn this week to look at a particular story of madness in the book of Daniel and how a king went mad with his delusions of grandeur and himself. Certainly, pride played a factor, but from King Nebuchadnezzar’s life we learn that there is a warning God intends for us when it comes to building our own kingdoms and brands without Him. Even if we don’t heed the warning God gives, He can still restore us from the insanity that we find ourselves trapped by. You can find this story Daniel 4. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

May is Mental Health Awareness month. It’s during this time that here is an increased emphasis on looking after one’s mental and emotional health. Last week on the podcast, we talked about our environment and needing to take an assessment of what voices and other things in our surrounding environment are affecting and impacting our mental and spiritual state. Today, we look at the ways that God meets us in the midst of our own mess. There are highs and lows in football, just like in life. There are moments when we take on the game’s greatest (like Lionel Messi) and moments when we can’t wait to shower and get out of the stadium because we (or the team) just laid an egg against an opponent. We can become exhausted working through the highs and lows. Today, we look at the life of Elijah (the prophet of Israel) and the moment that he was ready to give up on life — thinking that he had failed or just being fed up and too frustrated to go on. You can find this story I Kings 19. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

During the month of May, there is an increased emphasis on looking after one’s mental and emotional health. For the next few weeks on the podcast, I want to look at some biblical stories that deal with individuals who struggled with mental health and some of the changes that they made in their lives and ways that God helped them through a difficult time or struggle. This week, we look at a moment in King Saul’s life when he was struggling with depression and fear. It was at the recommendation of some of his servants that Saul seek to change his environment — namely, through the playing of music and the presence of David as a servant. Even though Saul had disobeyed God and was rejected as king, God still was gracious to Saul to give him relief from the overwhelming sense that he felt. What in your environment needs to be changed? Are you able to see any needs for change? What are some ways that God can give you relief from the pressures that you feel — whether you are an athlete, coach, or staffer? From the Touchline is a short-feature 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 soccer, we don’t always win. As followers of Jesus, we don’t always have success — at least not in the ways that the world defines success. In fact, the people of God have usually been more characterized by suffering than success. Maybe that’s why Psalm 34 hits in a different way than so many other psalms. What does it look like to praise God, even after a difficult time or some particular adversity? Soccer Psalm 34 takes David’s experience of having to act insane in front of his enemies in order to escape harm and puts it into the language of a footballer. There are just some moments when we need God to intervene, because we are beside ourselves and powerless to change our situation and the outcomes. What about you and me? Can we find ways to praise God after emerging from a struggle? The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon. (You can also find The Football Psalms-a British version-if you appreciate the different terms around the game). Both books are available globally on Amazon and contain 31 psalms that have been translated into “soccer psalms” — with words, language, and metaphors that connect soccer to God’s Word. I also include some reflection on the context and writing as well as some questions for reflection. Check out the book below: The Soccer Psalms: https://mybook.to/thesoccerpsalms The Football Psalms: https://mybook.to/thefootballpsalms-uk Los Salmos del Fútbol: https://mybook.to/lossalmosdelfutbol 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.

We’re just 51 days out from the start of the World Cup! And today on the podcast, we look at Psalm 51 and the Soccer Psalm 51. Infidelity is a massive problem in soccer (and professional sport, in general) and Psalm 51 gives us a look at the confession of David after his affair and subsequent impregnation of Bathsheba had been revealed and that first son had died. David offers words and a song of repentance. Similarly, Soccer Psalm 51 acknowledges sin and the need for God’s forgiveness. Perhaps one of my favorite lines in writing The Soccer Psalms comes with the line in verse 5 “studs up, intent to injure.” David had killed one of his best and most loyal friends and warriors — Uriah. Worse than a career or season-ending injury caused by a studs up challenge, David had taken life to cover up his sin. He needed forgiveness. We need forgiveness, for our sins — and God’s the only one who can clean us from the guilt of those things. The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon. (You can also find The Football Psalms-a British version-if you appreciate the different terms around the game). Both books are available globally on Amazon and contain 31 psalms that have been translated into “soccer psalms” — with words, language, and metaphors that connect soccer to God’s Word. I also include some reflection on the context and writing as well as some questions for reflection. Check out the book below: The Soccer Psalms: https://mybook.to/thesoccerpsalms The Football Psalms: https://mybook.to/thefootballpsalms-uk Los Salmos del Fútbol: https://mybook.to/lossalmosdelfutbol 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.

Psalm 139 speaks to the way that God knows us uniquely and intimately. This psalm of David speaks to the ways that God knew us before we were even born — and that there was a plan laid out of our lives. What an amazing comfort this can bring in the midst of the moments of crisis or celebration that we go through in this life. Soccer Psalm 139 mimics that same language by picturing God as a Mastermind Coach or Scout. God is one who knows the athlete — tendencies, mistakes, skills, and abilities — all of it. The athlete can take comfort that God is present and near and He sees and hears. it doesn’t matter if The Beautiful Game takes us near or far — God is with us. In the dawn of a career or in its twilight. How have you realized God’s presence in the midst of your own football journey? The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon. (You can also find The Football Psalms-a British version-if you appreciate the different terms around the game). Both books are available globally on Amazon and contain 31 psalms that have been translated into “soccer psalms” — with words, language, and metaphors that connect soccer to God’s Word. I also include some reflection on the context and writing as well as some questions for reflection. Check out the book below: The Soccer Psalms: https://mybook.to/thesoccerpsalms The Football Psalms: https://mybook.to/thefootballpsalms-uk Los Salmos del Fútbol: https://mybook.to/lossalmosdelfutbol 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.

Psalm 16 has language that resonates in a post-Resurrection Sunday time, “…you will not abandon me to the grave,…” Psalm 16 is known as a miktam — it’s like an inscription. It’s something that one recites to themselves to remind them of truths in the midst of hardship. It’s a mix of praise in the midst of an adverse situation. I wrote Soccer Psalm 16 as an appeal to God to be working on our behalf like a good agent. With God on our side and looking out for us, he can be helping us into that next situation, that next contract, that next transition. His desire for our best often produces more than what we might have ever hoped for and imagined. Is God your agent? Is he your advocate? The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon. (You can also find The Football Psalms-a British version-if you appreciate the different terms around the game). Both books are available globally on Amazon and contain 31 psalms that have been translated into “soccer psalms” — with words, language, and metaphors that connect soccer to God’s Word. I also include some reflection on the context and writing as well as some questions for reflection. Check out the book below: The Soccer Psalms: https://mybook.to/thesoccerpsalms The Football Psalms: https://mybook.to/thefootballpsalms-uk Los Salmos del Fútbol: https://mybook.to/lossalmosdelfutbol 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.

During Holy Week, I’ve often talked about “Spy Wednesday” (Judas’ betrayal of Jesus) or occasionally about something around “Good Friday,” but today on the podcast I look at some of the events going on during “Temple Tuesday” (during a time of Jesus teaching in the temple courts). It’s in this moment that the authority of Jesus is questioned by the religious leaders of the day. And Jesus’ response to their questions is classic. We live in a day and time when authority is questioned constantly. Whether it is governments or political factions that people are rising up against or whether it’s the board chairman or president of the football club that is about to make a decision — people aren’t afraid to let their voices be heard and to rise up in protest against the “authority” of the day. Sometimes standing up to authority is right and important, but in other times and moments we are called (as followers of Jesus) to accept those who have been put in authority over us. How do we know which is which? We get into all this and more. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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’s the historic home opener for Denver Summit FC, one of the newest and hottest teams in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Soccer Chaplains United’s very own, Lis Cheesman, one of the volunteer co-chaplains for the team joins the podcast to share about her soccer journey and background and how God has led her to being a pastor at LifeGate Church in Denver, CO and one of the co-chaplains. Today, on the podcast, in addition to talking about her own background and the beginnings of chaplaincy with the team, Lis plays a game of Crosses with Rev before closing the podcast with a prayer and blessing over Denver Summit FC and the league. You won’t want to miss the exciting interview with Lis. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Psalm 90 has one of my favorite phrases and prayers which encapsulates these words of Moses to God — “establish the work of our hands, yes establish the work of our hands.” But in football (soccer) it’s the feet that get used most — so does God establish the work of our feet? Sure, I believe He does. He’s the one who sets out the cones, He marks the lines. I wrote Soccer Psalm 90 so that athletes in soccer can realize that we have a certain degree of frailty. Many times when we are young, athletic — we can feel invincible, we can feel unbreakable. That is, until we break. Our first injury might seem minor or it might be major, but it reminds us that we are dependent — upon others (doctors, physios, and more) and upon God. God can help us steward our lives, our careers if we will but let Him. He will show us where to go and open certain doors that might have been previously closed off to us. We should invite Him into these aspects of our lives — more on this in this week’s podcast. The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon. (You can also find The Football Psalms-a British version-if you appreciate the different terms around the game). Both books are available globally on Amazon and contain 31 psalms that have been translated into “soccer psalms” — with words, language, and metaphors that connect soccer to God’s Word. I also include some reflection on the context and writing as well as some questions for reflection. Check out the book below: The Soccer Psalms: https://mybook.to/thesoccerpsalms The Football Psalms: https://mybook.to/thefootballpsalms-uk Los Salmos del Fútbol: https://mybook.to/lossalmosdelfutbol 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.

Psalm 91 speaks to the protection that God offers his people. He is the shelter, the refuge, the fortress where people can go and be safe from the different threats that abound. Soccer Psalm 91 is about how God protects the athlete, the player. Injuries — physical, spiritual, and mental — abound in the beautiful game. Some happen with malicious intent from other people. Others occur as a result of the physicality of the game. I wrote Soccer Psalm 91 so that athletes in soccer can realize Whom to place their hope and dependence and trust in. God has our back. He loves us. He is our defense. We don’t suffer from injury like others — it’s not to say we don’t get hurt or injured, but we are able to see purpose and meaning in the midst of it. We are able to understand that we are loved and covered by God even in the midst of the storm. Enjoy this soccer psalm for this week’s podcast. The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon. (You can also find The Football Psalms-a British version-if you appreciate the different terms around the game). Both books are available globally on Amazon and contain 31 psalms that have been translated into “soccer psalms” — with words, language, and metaphors that connect soccer to God’s Word. I also include some reflection on the context and writing as well as some questions for reflection. Check out the book below: The Soccer Psalms: https://mybook.to/thesoccerpsalms The Football Psalms: https://mybook.to/thefootballpsalms-uk Los Salmos del Fútbol: https://mybook.to/lossalmosdelfutbol 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.

Psalm 100 is a song for giving joyful praise. And behold, in honor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup now being less than 100 days away from kicking off, Soccer Psalm 100 features on the podcast this week. Soon, there will be much celebration and jubilation (and some sadness when one’s team loses) around the world’s biggest stage and tournament. I wrote Soccer Psalm 100 from the perspective of the fans — those who sit and await the match to begin. They start the party well ahead of the game. There is food and fellowship and footy happening. In the USA, we call it tailgating. In the UK, people gather at the local pub for “chippies” before a joyful march to the stadium ground. In other parts of the world, there are other, similar pre-match rituals and routines — usually expressive of joy and eager anticipation to get behind one’s team. In many ways, we await the triumphant procession and return of Jesus and the Cup Final to end all Cup Finals. Enjoy this soccer psalm for this week’s podcast. The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon. (You can also find The Football Psalms-a British version-if you appreciate the different terms around the game). Both books are available globally on Amazon and contain 31 psalms that have been translated into “soccer psalms” — with words, language, and metaphors that connect soccer to God’s Word. I also include some reflection on the context and writing as well as some questions for reflection. Check out the book below: The Soccer Psalms: https://mybook.to/thesoccerpsalms The Football Psalms: https://mybook.to/thefootballpsalms-uk Los Salmos del Fútbol: https://mybook.to/lossalmosdelfutbol 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’s the home opener this weekend for my club team, the Colorado Rapids. It has me thinking and reflecting on home. I am a Denver and Colorado native (we’re rare these days). And our beautiful state is surrounded by roadway signs that say “Welcome to Colorful Colorado.” But the signs aren’t what you think that they might be. Today, on the podcast, I reflect more on the “signage” in our life that mark out the home space. The words of Jeremiah, the prophet, to the nation of Israel were filled with hope in a pretty desperate time. He told them, take note of the road. Mark out the signposts. They are words of promise — that a return would happen, that God would be doing a new thing in the land (and to the people). Those promises are true for us, today, as well. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Every season, there is usually a team or two that acknowledges a “rebuilding” year. It can come with a transition of a new coach, an influx of several athletes, changes in management, or the loss of key individuals upon whom the organization was depending on. Rebuilding is never easy — especially after a devastating loss (like the California wildfires of 2025) where a whole community suffers or is destroyed. How does one rebuild in such times. Today, on the podcast, as we begin the season of Lent and prepare for the start of Major League Soccer, rebuilding begins with a right heart posture. Isaiah 58 sets the stage as we consider what it looks like to get right with God so that He might be our help and our support. It isn’t about a false religiosity, rather it’s about how our Sunday-morning selves live out the rest of our faith walk throughout the week — whether in our jobs, our homes, our schools, or elsewhere. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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 wrap up our series on temptation, we look at the fifth and final stage of temptation and sin — the stage of obsession. The progressive slide of temptation leading into sin and sin leading, eventually, to death. Stage five is the most hurtful and the most helpless that we can feel (for ourselves or for our loved ones). How do we get out of the spiral? Today, on the podcast, it’s not to be glib or trite, but sometimes the only help, the only salvation has to come from Jesus. When the captivity stage leads to a neurotic obsession where self-destruction is the path, there is sometimes something that only Jesus can help to heal. We look at a few stories in scripture to see this example and to suggest that sometimes our best prayer is the simplest one — one that acknowledges our desire but our weakness. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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 continue our series on temptation, we look at the fourth stage, today. A logismoi (Greek) is an obtrusive, invading thought that assaults our mind, that setups a temptation. There is a progressive nature to temptation in that it leads to sin and, eventually, to death. Today, on the podcast, we look at stage 4 — captivity. The captivity stage is where we keep falling over and over to the same temptation. It’s a trap that we can’t seem to get out of. We may still battle, but we lose more than we win. We might even have stretches of victory or success in staving off the temptation and we might think we are safe or okay, but then it comes back in a voracious manner. Community is key to dealing with the captivity stage and we get into that in the podcast today. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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’re in the midst of a series on how to handle temptation. Logismos (a Greek word describing those obtrusive, invading thoughts that assault our minds) has a number of stages that we go through, but ultimately, its path leads to destruction. James 1 has an excellent description of the nature of temptation — it’s source, how we often fall for it, and what it eventually leads to. Today, on the podcast, we look at stage 3 — consent. This is when we make a willful decision to act. This is when we commit sin — the dialogue wrestling is over and we’ve given over and given in to what likely began as a subtle whisper. But just because we fail, just because we fall doesn’t mean that we give up. There’s a pathway toward still resisting and still trying to be in proximity with God. We look at a few different passages to help us realize what this stage looks like and how we need to respond. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Last week, we started to look at how to handle temptation — the nature of the logismos (those obtrusive, invading thoughts) that get into our minds, into our heads. Stage 1 was about seeing and recognizing that temptation is pretty common and the thought (the whisper, the suggestion) isn’t itself sin, but it can lead there pretty quickly if we aren’t ready and aren’t prepared or strong enough spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and even physically. Today, on the podcast, we look at stage 2 — the dialogue. There tends to be this conversation that goes on in our head. It can be positive or negative depending on where we are at with things, but how to we best handle the inner dialogue and learn one of the best ways that God has given us a way to come out from underneath the attack? The answer is found in the Bible. Actually, the answer is the Bible, God’s Holy Word. We look at the temptation of Jesus as an exampeland template for how we ought to handle the dialogue phase and be ready for temptation when it comes. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

During the MLS preseason, a lot of physical, mental, and emotional preparations go on. But what about our spiritual preparations? What about preparing for some of the challenges that we face in life — whether we are at home or on a month-long trip for preseason on the road? Today, on the podcast, I begin a series on temptation. Looking at the nature of it and way to combat it we get into the first stage of temptation, the assaultive thoughts that attack our minds. Are these attacks dramatic and loud? Is it a sin to be tempted? What’s God’s part in all of this? We dive into some of these questions and more. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Three King’s Day was yesterday, January 6. It is the time that marks the end of the Christmas season and the visit of the Magi to the Christ child. Many speak of the three kings — in song, story (some fable), and poem — but what we know is that there were three gifts that are mentioned in Matthew 2: gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. These three gifts hold multiple meanings — symbolic on different levels, but they also might be a point of introspection for us as we move into the new year. Today, on the podcast, what gifts of wealth (gold), worship (incense), and weakness (myrrh) do you and I bring into 2026? Whether as an athlete, coach, staffer, or chaplain — and whether it is into our work spaces or into our homes or church communities each of us brings these gifts (given by God) and they are a beautiful part of who we are. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Some of you know that I love my Scottish/English/Irish heritage (maybe a little too much). I have found much within Celtic Christianity, that I connect with and today on the podcast, I share about a Scottish tradition of ‘first-footing.’ Essentially, the first guest into someone’s home for the New Year carries symbolic and representative gifts that are to be a boon and blessing for the year to come. My encouragement today is that we need to let Jesus Christ ‘first-foot’ into our hearts, homes, and lives. Whether as a professional footballer or coach, as a chaplain, or simply as a fan. We need to let Jesus be first in the door and to bring us the gift of himself to fulfill all our hopes and desires. Praying that you and your loved ones have a blessed and wonderful 2026 as you let Jesus ‘first-foot’! From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Hey friends, sometimes it can be hard to find that gift for that special person who enjoys soccer. I just wanted to quickly share a couple of resources that might be great gift ideas during this Christmas season. I recently had a couple of conversations with some friends and suggested a couple of devotionals to fit the need. The Light is Coming, The Five Women You Meet In Faith and Football, and more recently, The Soccer Psalms, are all faith and football/soccer related devotionals. It could be a great tool or resource for helping to encourage a child or grandchild in their faith and in seeing the way that their faith can relate to soccer. The Light is Coming is also written in Spanish and Portuguese as part of our 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup outreach. The Soccer Psalms is written in British english as The Football Psalms and in Spanish as Los Salmos del Fútbol and hopefully next year will be released in French and Portuguese — you can find each of these on Amazon, pretty much anywhere in the world! If you have a team that you’d like to get the devotionals for or want to order in a large quantity to give away as gifts, please feel free to reach to me at brad@soccerchaplainsunited.org and we’d love to help you gift these to your team. Have a wonderful Christmas! From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Hey friends, this time of year, I love to feature some of the talents and skills of our chaplains. Today, on the podcast, Justin Noseworthy, our chaplain for Monterey Bay FC plays and sings O Come, O Come Emmanuel for our podcast episode today. Enjoy the musical gifts and talents of Justin Noseworthy and have a wonderful Christmas! From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Hey friends, sometimes it can be hard to find that gift for that special person who enjoys soccer. I just wanted to quickly share a couple of resources that might be great gift ideas this Christmas season. I recently had a couple of conversations with some friends and suggested a couple of devotionals to fit the need. The Light is Coming, The Five Women You Meet In Faith and Football, and more recently, The Soccer Psalms, are all faith and football/soccer related devotionals. It could be a great tool or resource for helping to encourage a child or grandchild in their faith and in seeing the way that their faith can relate to soccer. The Light is Coming is also written in Spanish and Portuguese as part of our 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup outreach. The Soccer Psalms is written in British english as The Football Psalms and in Spanish as Los Salmos del Fútbol and hopefully next year will be released in French and Portuguese — you can find each of these on Amazon, pretty much anywhere in the world! If you have a team that you’d like to get the devotionals for or want to order in a large quantity to give away as gifts, please feel free to reach to me at brad@soccerchaplainsunited.org and we’d love to help you gift these to your team. Have a wonderful Christmas! From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Christmas is just a few days away — during this time of year, waiting seems more pronounced. Whether waiting in a line at the store, waiting for that gift or package to arrive, waiting for a family member to come home, and more. In soccer, this time of year is filled with other kinds of waiting — for a new contract, a new team; waiting for the results of a scan or working through the rehab and recovery from an injury; waiting for the next season to start and a new chance to prove one’s self. But in all the waiting moments of life, how do we learn how to wait? Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I share from Luke’s Gospel, chapters 1 and 2, briefly referencing different people who are in ‘waiting’ mode and deriving some lessons from the waiting that they went through as perhaps examples and models for ourselves, today. From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

Last Friday, the world watched as the participants for the 2026 FIFA World Cup were drawn into their groups for what may be the most epic soccer tournament of our lives to date. Spread across three countries — US, Mexico, and Canada — a historic 48 teams will take part in this next World Cup. It promises to be an amazing time. Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I share some thoughts on the world’s biggest stage for the Beautiful Game. Listen at your own risk to my poor opinions and commentary and make up your own mind! From the Touchline is a short-feature 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 Colorado GivesDay, a day when Colorado non-profits are highlighted and donations are incentivized through coloradogives.org. Find our non-profit at this link: https://mtyc.co/99o7ff. If you want to join the work and support Soccer Chaplains United year-round simply text “soccerchaplains” to 77977 and you can make a secure, online donation there. See you all tomorrow for a full episode of From the Touchline! From the Touchline is a short-feature 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.

For many years, I simply introduced myself as “Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids.” That is until someone asked me how much my typical position paid. Whoops! I explained that I am a volunteer and I raise support (like a missionary) to do the work I do and am in no way funded by the team […]

Here in the United States, we observe the holiday of Thanksgiving. It's a time when family and friends come together and give thanks and share a table. More and more these days, though, we can lose sight of the time and preparation that it can take for a good meal to be prepared, cooked, and […]

Getting away is a hard but necessary thing, especially when you're in a caregiving kind of role. Jesus knew that he needed to get away and to get rest and he knew that his followers and friends needed to get rest and a bit of retreat. And even though Jesus never really gets the rest […]

Every year, around the middle of November, I usually highlight some aspect of the life and work of Saint Martin of Tours. Saint Martin's story is where the origins of our English words, chapel and chaplain come from. His most poignent moment, perhaps, is when he robes a distressed man in the cold of winter. […]

November 1 in the church calendar is All Saints Day. It is a time to acknowledge all known and unknown saints throughout all moments in time. Often times, church communities will take some time on the Sunday closest to November 1 to honor, recognize, and commemorate those who have “gone before,” the “communion of saints,” […]

October is pastoral and chaplain appreciation month and it's our last podcast of the month where we focus in on Soccer Chaplains United people and their service and pastoral care in the soccer space. Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I am joined by Gavin Brand. Gavin is the volunteer chaplain for Ballard FC, […]

October is pastoral and chaplain appreciation month and for the remainder of the month, I'd like to interview several of Soccer Chaplains United's very own chaplains. In the course of the next couple of weeks we can listen to and hear the work that they are doing with their teams and some of their origin […]

October is pastoral and chaplain appreciation month and for the remainder of the month, I'd like to interview several of Soccer Chaplains United's very own chaplains. In the course of the next few weeks we can listen to and hear the work that they are doing with their teams and some of their origin story […]

October is pastoral and chaplain appreciation month and for the remainder of the month, I'd like to interview several of Soccer Chaplains United's very own chaplains. In the course of the next few weeks we can listen to and hear the work that they are doing with their teams and some of their origin story […]

Often times we can look at professional athletes and think that their life is glamorous and desirable, but we may not know how hard it is to get there and the many sacrifices made to play the Beautiful Game. Last week, Clint Irwin began with his origin story and gave us a look at the […]

There are countless stories of soccer players who couch surf and go wherever the game may take them in an attempt to live out their dream to play professional soccer. Some make, most don't. There are fewer opportunities to make it to the top leagues these days without hard-work and a gritty determination. And there […]

The past few weeks have been troubling in the US, to say the least — stabbings, shootings, marches and more in a country that has been typically a peace-filled one. What can we do in such times? How do we respond in such moments? Can we experience true peace? How do we pray for true […]

Today, and today only, for From the Touchline podcast listeners The Soccer Psalms ebook is free on Amazon. All you need to do is go to Amazon, search up The Soccer Psalms and download the Kindle version. Don't have Kindle? It's okay, you only need the free Kindle app in order to get your free […]

Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I share from my experience this past weekend as I was invited out to be present in an athlete retirement ceremony and celebration. Clint Irwin, former Colorado Rapids goalkeeper, who also played for Toronto FC and Minnesota United FC, had a moment for friends and family to gather. […]

Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I offer some final thoughts on the 4th Global Congress on Sport and Christianity in Waco, Texas which happened at the beginning of August. It was my fourth congress and I share some of my favorite highlights, a view toward where sports and soccer chaplaincy may be headed […]

Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I am joined by our very own, Kim Beach, affectionately known as Miss Kim. Kim is chaplain to Victory Christian High School in Indiana and also to the newly developed Warehouse — a place where athletes can go and be trained and discipled. Miss Kim attended the 4th […]

Today on the From the Touchline podcast, I am joined by good friend and the long-time chaplain/character coach for Southern Illinois University Salukis, Roger Lipe. Roger recently received the Sport.Faith.Life lifetime achievement award at the 4th Global Congress on Sport and Christianity held in Waco, Texas. He is prolific author (16 books) and a long-time […]

The 4th Global Congress on Sport and Christianity held last week at Baylor University's Truett Seminary was epic. A great time. Many old friendship revisited. Some new friendships formed. A lot of thoughtful presentations. I am still trying to process it all. In today's edition of From the Touchline, I share the audio recording from […]

Psalm 126 is another song of ascent. It was a journey song — for those who were coming to worship at the temple. It recalls a time of deprivation and exile and the return of a peoples to their land and the worship of God praising His goodness to them. In many ways, it can feel […]

David in Psalm 12 is describing the trustworthy and true nature of God in spite of all the faithlessness and falseness around him. It's the difference between flattery and flawlessness. People being liars and God being a protector of the vulnerable. I wrote Soccer Psalm 12 as an appeal to God as the Ultimate Referee. […]