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Atwood speaks on life's choices at chapel

by Avary Randall, student news writer, Office of Communications

Campbellsville, KY (01/25/2023) — Matt Atwood, assistant football coach and leader of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at Campbellsville University, spoke at Ransdell Chapel recently about the importance of choices in life.

Atwood asked if any of us ever woke up in a bad mood.

"If so, are you going to stay that way, or can starting the day be a thankful opportunity to be alive?" he asked. "How many of you woke up and said, 'I am so thankful I get to live today? I am so happy I get to live this moment.'"

Atwood asked if anyone had been in a car accident, where they thought they might die but survived.

"What did that next day feel like?" Atwood said. "That day was tremendous right? That day was amazing. You were so happy and so thankful that you got another opportunity to do life. That moment is what I am going to attempt to find in our daily lives."

Atwood also asked if anyone had ever felt they weren't good enough. For example, did they believe they weren't good enough to be on a team, date someone or share their faith?

Atwood said these thoughts paralyze the mind and body.

"It's not that you were born that way," Atwood said. "You created that for yourself with your own thoughts."

Instead of dwelling on the negative, Atwood said our perspective could change to be more thankful, to help, find those in need or even hug someone.

Atwood asked, "How many of you have lived in the moment and know God is powerful, and He has dominion over my life, and, at that exact time, I'm exactly where I belong?"

"If you could live in that moment every day, life would be wonderful," Atwood said. "But, we as humans don't live like that every day."

He told a story about an elder Cherokee Brave, who told his grandson of a battle inside everyone. The battle is between two wolves. One is consumed with anger, envy and jealousy, while the other embodies humility, kindness and hope.

The grandson asked, "Which wolf wins?" The grandfather replied, "The one you feed."

Atwood said, "Whichever wolf you feed every day is going to win. You need to understand that you are in a fight every single day of your life with yourself."

Atwood discussed Romans chapters 7 and 8, beginning with verses 21-25 in chapter 7: "So I discover this principle: When I want to do what is good, evil is with me. For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God's law.

"But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.

"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this dying body? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin."

Atwood said it is up to everyone to determine the course and outcome of their life.

"The easiest thing to do in your life is to lose, to quit or to give up," Atwood said. The hardest thing to do is put your ten toes in the ground and battle every day. You control the outcome. You make the choices. You choose the path you will go through in life."

Atwood challenged the audience to choose every day whether they would live in the flesh or live in the spirit.

The FCA meets at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays in the Hawkins Building, Room 210.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that offers over 100 programs of study including doctoral, master, bachelor, associate and certificate programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.

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During a recent chapel, Matt Atwood said the easiest choice in life is to lose or give up, but the hardest choice is to keep battling. (Campbellsville University Photo by Gerard Flanagan)

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