From The Touchline – Soccer Chaplains United

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 with Upper90 Properties and continues to invest in soccer and ministry. He serves on the Soccer Chaplains United Board of Directors and is also an elder at Denver Presbyterian Church. In part 1, Jeremy and I talk about his origin story with soccer and how he came into coaching. Tune in next week for part 2. 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 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 the fray and chaos of what was going on. In reflection, God is the first, First Responder — in Genesis 3, when Adam and Eve have sinned and the fall has happened, it is God who walks into the fray and calls out to humanity. He then puts into action the plan to rescue and to save, and this happening in the person of Jesus who (as The Message puts it in John 1:14) moves into the neighborhood. I conclude with an encouragement and prayer for us as we face our own tower-collapsing, world shut-down moments in life. 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 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 in for that difficult out come meeting? Pray Psalm 5. The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon which is also in Spanish, British English, Portuguese, and French. All 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 collection below: The Soccer Psalms 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.

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 deny authority, we rise up and rebel, and more. Soccer Psalm 14 (as a reflection of Psalm 14) considers how the need for a response from the Owner (from God) against the foolish rebellion. God’s presence with the righteous and upright makes all the difference. The Soccer Psalms, is a self-published book available on Amazon which is also in Spanish, British English, Portuguese, and French. All 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 collection below: The Soccer Psalms 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 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 and come up short. Many times in life we experience a sadness and loneliness, but as Christians we have the promise that Jesus will never leave us and he won’t forsake us. Christian people have the greatest companion in the midst of any sadness that we face — the Holy Spirit. 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.