From The Touchline – Soccer Chaplains United

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...

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....

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 t...

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 socc...

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...

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 a...

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 ...

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 o...

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...

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 ...

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 st...

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, me...

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 assau...

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...

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 encoura...

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 Ps...

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 Executiv...

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, ...

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 ...