From the Touchline

There is a beauty to the Beautiful Game and much of it has to do with the rules and laws and order that has been established over time and with much testing and even a growth and evolution of the game of soccer. Today’s podcast features Psalm 19 and Soccer Psalm 19 which speaks about God, God’s Word, and Soccer. Psalm 19 neatly presents such a “defense” to us about the nature of God an...

Today on the podcast, it’s part two of my interview with special guest, Jeremy Tittle. Jeremy is a longtime soccer coach, former collegiate player, and current board member with Soccer Chaplains United. In this part of the podcast he talks about stepping away from coaching and understanding God’s call on his life for coaching was just for a season. He also shares his joys and vision fo...

Today on the podcast, I am joined by special guest, Jeremy Tittle. Jeremy Tittle is a longtime soccer coach, former collegiate player, and current board member with Soccer Chaplains United. His coaching career has included head-coaching positions at Lees-McRae College and MSU Denver, along with assistant coaching experience at West Virginia and Midwestern State. Jeremy now works in the Denver area...

Today on the podcast, I take some time to offer up some reflections on the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001. 9/11 is one of those days and moments in time when you certainly remember where you were when things transpired. I equate it to the more recent global pandemic. Certainly, there are some heroes around the events of the day — and many of them were the first responders who entered into...

In professional soccer, there are all sorts of behind-the-scenes, backstabbing moments that go on. A coach who gets ousted, a technical director who is fired, an athlete who is set aside and more. Just as in Psalm 5, David reflects on the “ambush” moment and how God is on his side; how the Lord is there to support him, even in difficult moments when many might despair. Are you headed i...

In the modern game of football, the supporter has a particularly strong voice. Often the fan’s voice is represented with their finance, other times by their social media influence, and other times the voice is presented with violence. The relationship between an ardent supporter and the football team can be a tenuous one at times. It mirrors often the human relationship with God — we de...

It’s our last podcast for the month of August. I hope you’ve enjoyed going back and having us re-air some episodes to coincide with the new season of the hit-TV show, Ted Lasso.  Today: Lesson 65 (our last lesson originally) “You’ll Never walk Alone.” This episode originally aired April 24, 2024. In this lesson, we see the sadness around the locker room as AFC Richmond’s season has come to an end...

During the month of August, we’re going back to our Lessons from Lasso series we did over the past few years and re-airing some episodes to coincide with the new season of the hit-TV show Ted Lasso.  Today: Lesson 55 “Be Curious, Not Judgmental.” This episode originally aired September 13, 2023. Today, we look at how Christians need to balance curiosity and judgement. Sometimes we can feel a...

During the month of August on the podcast, we are revisiting a number of episodes from our highly popular Lessons from Lasso series that we did a number of years ago to coincide with the return of the hit-TV show, Ted Lasso.  Today: Lesson 33 “Being Accountable Matters” which originally aired June 8, 2022. Today, we talk about accountability and why it matters in life, in faith, and in football. F...

Today on the podcast, we open up the archive and go back a few years. Our Lessons from Lasso series was really popular and in commemoration of a new season of the hit, tv-show coming out today, we’re going to air some of our favorite “Lessons from Lasso” episodes throughout the month of August. Today, “Lesson 12: Be a Goldfish” which originally aired October 27, 2021....

Today on the podcast, I take a minute to share about some different devotional resources that are available through myself and Soccer Chaplains United. The Soccer Psalms – Available in American and British English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. The Soccer Psalms helps connect the reader to Scripture and also to see the psalms expressed in football lanauge The Light is Coming — Originally...

Today on the podcast, I just want to take a moment and offer some of my humble (and non-professional) thoughts around the 2026 World Cup which just wrapped up this past weekend. Whether it was the rising visibility of some smaller nations, the experience of different national fans and their culture or their experience of American culture, the controversies and more — I sit for a few minutes today...

Today is the final day of the Nations and Devotions prayer campaign and the last podcast to commemorate the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Today, I share a reflection on Psalm 150 and Soccer Psalm 150 about the greatness of God. Today, for our time of prayer, I lift up all the nations of this year’s World Cup by name. Today’s special hashtag is #allnations for the Nations and Devotions sticker c...

For today’s Nations and Devotions podcast, I (Rev Brad) reflect on Psalm 126 and Soccer Psalm 126. This psalm which was sung by worshippers on the way to the temple recounts how God has been good in bringing them back from exile. God is good and our comeback(s) with Him can begin today! Today, I pray for the nation of France’s they take on England in the third-lace match. Today’s...

Today’s Nations and Devotions podcast, I (Rev Brad Kenney) reflect on Psalm 134 and Soccer Psalm 134 about how we can celebrate life with the people around us — even those who are in charge of cleaning up the stadium. I share a prayer for the nation of Spain. Today is a rest day before the final matches of the World Cup. Today’s special hashtag is #spain for the Nations and Devotions s...

Today’s Nations and Devotions podcast, Julio Baptista, a chaplain and member of the Global Sports Chaplaincy Network, reflects on Psalm 139 and Soccer Psalm 139 about how God meets us in the highs and lows of the Beautiful Game and of life. Julio then leads a prayer for his adoptive nation of Argentina. Today is a rest day before the final matches of the World Cup. Today’s special hash...

Today’s Nations and Devotions podcast, Marco Ambriz, volunteer chaplain to Oakland Roots, reflects on Psalm 34 and Soccer Psalm 34 about how we can play with joy again — even if we’ve been through a difficult time and season of life. Marco then leads us in a prayer in English and Spanish for the nation of Brazil. Today is the second semifinal match of the World Cup. Today’s speci...

Today’s Nations and Devotions podcast features special guest, Rev Phillip Wright, volunteer chaplain to West Ham United and part of Sports Chaplaincy UK. Rev Wright offers a reflection on Psalm 5 and a prayer for his home nation of England. Today marks the first semifinal for the World Cup tournament. Today’s special hashtag is #england for the Nations and Devotions sticker challenge....

Today’s Nations and Devotions podcast, Ben Bost, one of the newest chaplains for Soccer Chaplains United, returns to share a reflection on Psalm 22 and Soccer Psalm 22 about how we can be on the grandest stage in soccer and sport, have the spotlight on us, and still feel utterly alone. But, the truth is God meets the lonely in the midst of this time. Ben then leads us in a prayer for Portuga...

El episodio de hoy de Nations and Devotions cuenta con la participación de Marco Ambriz, uno de los capellanes más recientes de Soccer Chaplains United. Marco es pastor de la First Covenant Church en Oakland, California, y también capellán voluntario del equipo Oakland Roots. Marco reflexiona sobre el Salmo 2 y el “Salmo del Fútbol 2”, centrándose en cómo Dios gobierna y reina por enci...

Today’s Nations and Devotions podcast features Marco Ambriz, one of the newest chaplains for Soccer Chaplains United. Marco is pastor to First Covenant Church in Oakland, CA and also the volunteer chaplain to Oakland Roots. Marco reflects on Psalm 2 and Soccer Psalm 2 around God ruling and reigning above all earthly powers. Marco then leads us in a prayer for Germany. Today is a rest day aft...

Today’s Nations and Devotions podcast features Jan van Vliet, Board Member for Soccer Chaplains United. Jan is a long-time educators — in economics and in theology. Jan offers a reflection on Psalm 133 and Soccer Psalm 133 around the unity of those in the locker room. Jan has the special privilege of offering a prayer for his birth nation of the Netherlands. Today the quarterfinals of the Wo...

Today’s Nations and Devotions features a prayer for the nation of Uruguay. Abraham Rodriguez, former goalkeeper to the Colorado Rapids and Toronto FC shares a reflection on Psalm 91 and Soccer Psalm 91 about the Lord being like a goalkeeper to us. He shares about a low point in his career when God showed up and led him out of a challenging time. He then prays for the nation of Uruguay. Today...

Today’s Nations and Devotions features a prayer for the nation of Croatia by one of the newest chaplains to Soccer Chaplains United, Ben Bost. Ben is the inaugural volunteer chaplain to AC Boise, a team which has just begun playing in USL League 1. Ben offers a reflection based on Psalm 1 and Soccer Psalm 1 about the importance of training and practicing — not only in football, but in faith...

Today’s Nations and Devotions features a prayer for the nation of Belgium. As volunteer chaplain to the Colorado Rapids and an American, it might be a little difficult to pray for the team that just knocked your home nation out of the tournament but they deserved to win. I also offer another reflection from Psalm 6 and Soccer Psalm 6 about how there is hope after injury — God sees us and kno...