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The Soccer Psalms – Psalm 126

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:17 — 13.3MB)

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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 like a dream — to return, to win, to move up again.

I wrote Soccer Psalm 126 from the perspective of a fan who is seeing their club go up and be promoted or staving off relegation. This is hard for fans in the United States to fully appreciate and grasp, but for many others around the world they watch as their team strives to “stay up” in the highest league possible. Well, we, too need God at times to help deliver us or help us to rise — in our vocations and careers, in our marriages and relationships, and in our faith. Here is a wonderful song that reminds us to trust in Him and to see His goodness, even in those difficult times and places.

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

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.

The Soccer Psalms – Psalm 12

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:08 — 14.9MB)

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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. We can often equate (in the modern game) a sense of deprivation when it comes to officiating. So many bad calls even in spite of VAR and all the modern amenities for calling a good game, but God has all the angles covered and He can deliver the justice that life demands unlike any other. It’s God’s protections which keep the game and life good and pure.

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

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.

McDaniel Has Heart for Heartwood, Resigns Defiance Chaplaincy

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Jubal McDaniel has tendered his resignation from his volunteer chaplain role with the Tacoma Defiance and from Soccer Chaplains United. Jubal began serving the Defiance in 2020. The last 6 seasons have watched him grow the ministry toward the team and community in some really neat and exciting ways. 

Jubal not only served as volunteer chaplain to the Defiance, but also played other key roles in the community and for Soccer Chaplains United. He had a direct hand in getting soccer gear for three different community projects including two project in Spokane, WA with Community First in 2024 and 2022 which did work and ministry with refugee resettlement families. Another project in 2023 saw Wilderness Church working with an orphanage in Mexico.

In addition to the Community Projects, Jubal was also key in seeing the placement and support of several new chaplains to Soccer Chaplains United. His additional volunteer work as the West Coast Chaplain Coordinator for Soccer Chaplains United since late 2023 saw him play a key role in helping bring chaplaincy to Ballard FC via Gavin Brand, Spokane Velocity with Russell Branham, Spokane Zephyr FC with Amy Miller, and Central Valley Fuego FC with Geraud Brumfield. He also introduced Tiago Souza to us who helped with Portuguese translation of our 2022 World Cup Devotional.

But more so than all of the above, Jubal had a deep love and care for the athletes, coaches, and staff that he supported through his time with Tacoma Defiance. Some of my favorite stories include him getting a keyboard for an athlete who loved playing piano. Or, the one time he helped get a bicycle for an athlete who was new to Tacoma. Oftentimes, Jubal could be found coordinating with training staff and bringing out electrolyte pops on a warm summer Washington day. Or, simply celebrating someone’s birthday in a meaningful way.

It has been a tremendous five years of serving the Tacoma Defiance and its people. It’s incredible to think back over where I’ve come from, but also to serve in a time where the club underwent some significant growth and changes of its own. It has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I am so thankful for the opportunity…It is extremely hard to say goodbye, but I believe it is what’s best for myself, my family, the club, and the people I care for.

-Jubal, on his final farewell

Last fall, Jubal stepped into a new role leading the restart and revitalization of a church in Covington, WA. His duties now include oversight of a decent size building, a growing congregation, two part-time staff members and several community partnerships. This work and his responsibilities continue to grow, leaving him with less time and capacity to serve the Tacoma Defiance in the way he feels is best for the team.

Bless you in this new endeavor, Jubal. Thanks for all that you’ve done for Tacoma Defiance and for Soccer Chaplains United over the years!

The Soccer Psalms – Psalm 8

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 11:46 — 21.6MB)

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Psalm 8 is a proud boast about God. He is majestic. The work that He has done that is visibly expressed in creation and the way that God considers mankind is mind-blowing to David the psalmist. Perhaps young David has written this while sleeping out underneath the stars and watching over his flocks of sheep. He feels his place in God’s great, big world and it results in a sense of awe and respect for God that perhaps he’s never had before.

The Soccer Psalm 8 is a boast of a soccer staffer. It’s that sense of belonging that one feels when you’re working with others and you can look up with respect to club leadership or ownership because you see and feel the amazing ways that they take care of their people and make the workplace an enjoyable place to be.

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

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.

The Soccer Psalms – Psalm 7

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 10:03 — 18.4MB)

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Psalm 7 is a shiggaion, but what that truly is isn’t certain to scholars. Best we can say is that it might be a contextual note like “play with a bluesy feel…” We do know that David (the psalmist) has taken a pretty difficult accusation and it seems that it’s unfair or unjust and he’s crying out to God to vindicate him.

In soccer, in my 25+ years of being around the game, I have seen and witnessed a number of times that someone (a player, coach, staffer) was falsely accused of something and the intent behind the reporting of it was to oust someone from a position or to make one’s own advancement. At times, in our work places and living places we might face false accusations. Where can we go? To whom can we make an appeal for justice? For the Christian person, we can go to God and ask Him to fight and defend us. God is an ultimate authority who’s judgements are right and true.

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

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.

The Soccer Psalms – Psalm 3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:29 — 13.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Email | Youtube Music | RSS

Psalm 3 is a cry, a plea to God for help. David wrote it as he flees his son Absalom who was overthrowing the throne. David feels surrounded — like there’s no way out. The Soccer Psalm 3 is also written from a similar perspective — a player who’s been severely criticized. The media pundits and fans are calling for their dismissal. Truthfully, at different times in soccer this could apply to anyone—the head coach, an executive— it seems that there is always someone to blame, someone to level criticism at. This psalm is written for the one who is facing a criticism that is especially unjustified or unfair and they need to know that God has their back.

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

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.

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