All around the world, one thing that is perhaps as common as the love of the Beautiful Game is a desire for peace; a desire for safety and security — and sometimes football affords us a sense of this in the confines of the game. But in the elite levels and the business practices in the football industry, there's a lot of fighting, back-stabbing, and more that goes on. Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, in lesson 14 Rev Brad looks at Ted Lasso's "gift" of a little plastic green army man and the hopeful representation that somehow it will afford a type of protection from the wild and dangerous side of football. Peace is something that we all

Personalities play a massive role amongst a football team — whether the elite athlete or the magnanimous manager. And the football locker room isn't necessarily a friendly place for the timid or meek of the earth. So what kind of personality do you bring to football? Have you ever done a deep dive into how you are wired? Or, have you ever had to assemble a team or work with some "larger-than-life" personalities in your work place? Ted Lasso, the immensely popular streaming TV show in its second season on Apple TV+ features the antics and quirky, 'Ted Lasso' character brought to life in his own TV show series. Lasso first appeared a number of years ago as a comedic

Saturday night saw the collision of hopes and dreams as the United Soccer League - Championship division ended the regular season. Going into the night, three of the six teams served by Soccer Chaplains United were still vying for a playoff spot — with El Paso Locomotive, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, and Memphis 901 FC all having secured a spot already. Rio Grande Valley Toros FC were the only ones to succeed - at the cost of New Mexico United. The Tacoma Defiance needed a lot of help (win their game and have some other results go their way) which didn't happen. In spite of the Defiance losing out, Chaplain Jubal McDaniel described the team as playing with a lot

A number of results this past Wednesday night solidified the playoff destinies of teams where Soccer Chaplains United chaplains are serving. In Major League Soccer, while my own Colorado Rapids lost to league-leading New England, Ben Dudley and Troy Ready's Portland Timbers won 2-0 to clinch a spot. In the Eastern Conference Billy Cerveny's Nashville SC won with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Cincinnati to clinch a playoff place with a few games in the season remaining. In the National Women's League, Christina Garber's Portland Thorns clinched the league shield (most points in the season) and will have the top seed for postseason play. In the United Soccer League Championship, Soccer Chaplains United chaplains are serving six different teams. In

"It's a good tired" I shared with a friend who asked about the recent family mission trip to Juárez, Mexico. Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church, one of the sponsoring churches of Soccer Chaplains United, and the church where my family and I worship and are members, completed what is thought to be the 30th year of ministry and mission with Pastor Jorge Mata and his church, Iglesia Maranatha Presbiteriana. The church, just a stone's throw across the US border, has endured many struggles during the COVID pandemic — spiritually, emotionally, economically, and more. The family mission trip involves a week-long stay on the church grounds and various work projects and Vacation Bible School (VBS) programs for the neighborhood children, some of