Today is Spy Wednesday. Coming in the middle of Holy Week, tonight is the night when Judas betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Judas the betrayer, the traitor. Judas has a different relationship with Jesus than most of the other disciples — and a telling distinction in the Gospel of Matthew gives us some insight into this difference. Today, on the Soccer Chaplains United podcast, From the Touchline, we look at the text of Matthew 26:17-25 and examine Judas' different relationship with Jesus, noticeable in the word, the title, he uses to address Jesus. Contrast Judas with the other disciples and we can see a relational gap. Noting this difference, I also share a parallel that I have seen from

Telling the truth is difficult in our day and age and maybe nowhere more difficult than in the football world. Today, Coach Lasso takes a minute to speak some truth into young Nathan's life as they head off for the team charity benefit gala. In today's "Lessons from Lasso" on the From the Touchline podcast, I reflect on how difficult it is for truth-telling these days and something that we can see and learn from Coach Lasso as he takes a moment to tell one of his staff members a truth that he needs to hear. The Bible tells us that those who are really worthy of being in God's house are "truth tellers who don't have slander on their

Perhaps you've heard the adage — a house divided cannot stand. These words, spoken by Jesus a couple thousand years ago, play out in the rift that we see between members of the AFC Richmond team and Coach Lasso and Coach Beard have got to come up with a solution before it all unravels. Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I reflect on the inability for teams, homes, and kingdoms or nations to continue to exist with sharp division — there has to be reconciliation, there has to be healing and repair. During Jesus' earthly ministry he was accused of being on the same side as Satan — a ridiculous accusation and Jesus' words are a reminder that a

Tensions and fights happen in football — especially in the elite side of the game. There's a lot at stake and a wide variety of sources and causes of division and struggle and more. What happens when the emotions and passion boil over and threaten to destroy the camaraderie and unity of a locker room? Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I look at AFC Richmond going through this particularly difficult stages of group formation — one that teams often go through. A similar situation that Jesus faced with his own disciples — his rule wasn't "No fight club" but rather one that went deeper into the heart and ethos of a group of people that were tied together into a

Can a football manager or a football player really be unconcerned with wins and losses? Teams rise and fall with wins and losses. Contracts are offered or extended based on performances. Scholarships and other opportunities come as the result of the results. Who would dare be unconcerned with wins and losses at the elite levels and echelons of the game? Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, in our Lessons from Lasso series I scrutinize a bit of Coach Lasso's claim (season 1, episode 3) to Reporter Trent Crimm of not being too worried about wins and losses — it seems a bit of an idealistic thing to say. But can someone in football really have such an attitude or