S6 | Episode 62 Matt Manzari

"Don't forget what you learned in the light."

Matt Manzari was a professional athlete sponsored by NIKE and traveling the world all by the age of 15. It seemed like everything was going according to plan and he had his path laid out before him. Until Matt felt a calling to ministry and suffered a horrible accident while competing. But his biggest challenge still laid ahead of him. 

While trimming trees at a church, a power line arched over the metal bucket Matt was working in, sending 12,000 volts of electricity through his body. The electricity caused 4th and 5th-degree burns, which melted the skin off of most of his chest and arms. The burn went deep enough to kill muscle and bone.

Yet, Matt is a survivor. He teaches us that at the top, it can still feel empty and through tragedy, we can find salvation. 

Today, Matt joins us to share his story of faith, family, struggles and going all in on life.

SHOW NOTES: 

• Matt has two kids, Justice & Trig and wife Bobby Jean. He went to University in Tennessee to become a Minister. 
• He is currently working on a book. The working title is, "Unfair God."
• "If we would just look beyond our walls, we would see the creator of it all. You."
• "We create walls around us and we can't see beyond them. We build walls for many reasons, mostly fear. Beyond the Burn. Everybody is broken. Everyone is facing challenges. Look beyond our walls."
• Doctors told Matt that the amount of electricity that went through him was equivalent to being strapped to 6 electric chairs.
• "We live in a broken world, but one day we will have salvation."
• Matt encourages people to start "choosing to be more than anyone else is telling you is possible."

MATT MANZARI'S LIVE INSPIRED 7

1. What is the best book you’ve ever read? David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell & Think and Grow Rich by Napolean Hill. 

2. Tomorrow you discover your wealthy uncle shockingly dies at the age of 103; leaving you millions. What would you do with it? I love digging wells. I work with World Vision. I'd give some to them. Buy a classic truck. Lastly, I've always wanted to build a rehab center. Lost my leg but gained my life. 

3. Your house is on fire, all living things and people are out. You have the opportunity to run in and grab one item. What would it be? My first reaction would be "let it burn." After that...my dad's tools.  

4. You are sitting on a bench overlooking a gorgeous beach. You have the opportunity to have a long conversation with anyone living or dead. Who would it be? Anne Frank. "How did she do it?"

5. What is the best advice you’ve ever received? The difference between good and great isn't much. But there is a difference. Also, "find out what it is in this world that breaks your heart and spend the rest of your life trying to fix that."  

6. Looking back, what advice would you give yourself at age 20? Remember when we were little kids and you would hear something in the room and go flip the lights on and see that everything is fine and there's nothing there. Then you turn the light off and get back into bed. Pretty soon your mind starts playing tricks on you again. In the darkness you forget what you learned in the light. What's planned is bigger than you can imagine, so just hold on. 

7. It’s been said that all great people can have their lives summed up in one sentence. How do you want yours to read?  Matt went all in. 

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I can’t wait to see you here next Thursday! Today is your day. Live Inspired.

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