Have you ever felt alone in the midst of the Beautiful Game? Alone in your faith? Alone in a different country, where you don't speak the same language? Where it is difficult to find community or ways to live out your faith? Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I am joined by American Goalkeeper, John Hollinger. John joins me via zoom from Madrid, Spain while he waits out a 4-week lockdown in Northern Ireland where he has been on trial. John shares about his journey as a goalkeeper and his faith journey, what it's like to be in a foreign country and trying to live out your faith, and we play a fun little game called "Reflex" where we

In the midst of uncertain and difficult time, we may find ourselves flat on our back and needing help to stand back up. We need a good, trusted friend — someone who gets us, someone who understands us to help us back up after we've been knocked down. Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I share a story of two men who extend a hand and helped each other through a difficult time. In II Kings 10:15-16 we read about Jehu and Jehonadab. At a time of great civil unrest and national turmoil, Jehu extends a hand of friendship and allegiance to Jehonadab. I reflect on our need during difficult times to have a friend who can extend a

We are well into the fall season now — leaves are changing, there is a chill in the night air — and the football season here in the U.S. is soon to come to a close with end-of-year tournaments before the cold of winter sets in. Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I reflect on the similarities between the harvest season and the football season. Reflecting on poetic words from Kenneth McLeod's book Road to the Isles and also the apostle Paul's words found in Galatians 6:9-10, I hope that these can be words of encouragement — whether this fall season sees you reaping a bountiful reward or has you feeling somewhat empty-handed. Scripture reference from today's episode is

This October, with it being Pastoral Appreciation Month, we encourage supporters to "adopt" a chaplain — it might be a financial adoption, or prayer adoption — but however and whomever you might choose to "support" this month here is a little bit more on the chaplains that make up Soccer Chaplains United. #adoptachaplain Christ Presbyterian Academy High School Boys SoccerOne of Soccer Chaplains United's newest members, Rev Ryan Doyle is chaplain of CPA in Nashville, TN. Below are some of the ways you can "adopt" Ryan:- provide his 2020 Soccer Chaplains United membership- pray for Ryan, his wife, Lindsey, and six children - pray for his leadership of Mercy Presbyterian - pray for his teaching work with CPA- pray for his chaplaincy work with CPA Boys

In the Kenney household, the fifth week of the month is something special — because mom and dad are on for doing the typical household chores. Yes, each of my four girls, absolutely love when a month has a 5th week — they are jubilant and overjoyed with being able to get a "break" from loading dishes and setting table and such. Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I reflect on where else in life and in football we might need a "5th week" — a bit of rest from the work that we typically have. I briefly touch on themes of sabbath and sabbatical, something that I have podcasted about before (see Jan 1, 2020 podcast) but also