From the Touchline

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 prepare...

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...

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 dif...

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 f...

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...

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...

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 r...

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 rec...

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...

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...

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 or ownership. The same is true for all of our chaplains with Soccer Chaplains United and about 99.9% of...

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 then shared. We live in a microwave society where we want things with the convenience and quickness t...

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 he needs, he still gives us this invitation that we find in Mark 6:31, “Come with me by yourselves to a...

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. A part of my own practice and study has been to look at tother robing moments in scri...

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,” the community of those who believe in God. Today on...

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, a team that plays in the United Soccer League Two. Gavin shares about his jo...

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 story of how they came to be part of Soccer Chaplains United. Today on the From th...

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 of how they came to be part of Soccer Chaplains United. Today on the From the Touc...

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 of how they came to be part of Soccer Chaplains United. Today on the From the Touc...

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 difficulty and determination needed to get to the top level of soccer in the US — Major League Soccer. Today on 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 many, sadly, whose dreams fall short of the ultimate goal. Today on the From...

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 peace during such times? Today on the From the Touchline podcast , I reflect on the life of David and his writing of...

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 copy. I share a brief except today on the podcast and I would love it if you would write a rev...

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. I’d shared with Clint the idea of having some sort of ceremony or ritu...

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 for the future, and my takeaway which has me circling the calendar for the next congre...