NO SOUP FOR YOU! -

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Dear friend of All the Kings Horses Ministry,

The Soup Nazi on Seinfeld seemed to relish his power in delivering the dreaded message: “No soup for you!” I think it is time … past the time really, for every believer in Jesus Christ to become more like the Soup Nazi. Yes, you heard that right, and no, I have not lost my mind.

It is time for each one of us to stand up, stand firm, relish the power we have in Jesus Christ, and declare, “Get out of here Satan! … You are not welcome in this establishment … You must flee! … You will not have me for lunch! … I will not cower before you! … You will not eat my family alive! … No soup for you! … I am a child of the King!”

We have all lost so much during this Pandemic season. Many have lost jobs and livelihoods. Our schedules have been turned upside-down. We are battling depression … experiencing Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day existence. Sadly, some of you reading this newsletter have lost loved ones to this scourge, horrifyingly not even being able to grieve with extended family due to quarantine and “social distancing” rules. .

For Bryson, this season has been no less than devastating. Due to the fragile nature of his suppressed immune system, we’ve cancelled his companions coming to the home, his visits to the YMCA, his job at Vinnies Pizzarama, his visits to the Animal Shelter to socialize dogs, and his night out with the awesome Men and Women of Wayne Fire Company #3, all while his beloved sports on TV are long gone. He is lonely. He is bored. He is hurting … he is vulnerable. But at least he has his Dad, and his Dog … … not anymore!

On May 16th, 2020, Bryson’s best friend, his beloved Support Dog Dakota passed into Heaven, setting off one of the most violent earthquakes that have ever erupted in my son’s soul. By God’s grace Bryson and I will, somehow, weather this earthquake together, even as we’ve weathered so many earth-shaking storms for more than three decades now.

But what does Bryson’s grief, or his Pandemic trial, or yours, have to do with the Soup Nazi or with Satan? I’m glad you asked, and I pray you pay attention to my answer, because it pertains not only to Bryson’s enemy, but also to your mortal enemy! If I were in the war-room of Hell, I think I’d hear a strategy something like this concerning my son:

“Bryson’s life has been glorifying God for more than three decades now. They said he’d never speak … he spoke … They said he’d never walk … he walked … They said he’d never understand things … his simple, childlike faith in Jesus has resulted in the salvation of far too many people on earth! His legacy of perseverance against the backdrop of pain and loss has led to the awful sound ringing in our ears of praise being lifted up to our Enemy in Heaven! Enough already! We’ve got Bryson on the ropes! That dog meant so much to him! This is our opportunity! Let’s finish him off, as we should have done when he first threatened suicide after viewing that frightening episode of family violence years ago. Let’s move in for the kill! The time is now!

Jesus made the following striking statement about Satan’s malicious intent:

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;” John 10:10

Think about those three words. Dwell on each one of them for a moment. steal … kill … destroy … Dear reader of this newsletter, do you not realize Satan hates you with a vicious passion? Do you know that he will stop at nothing to destroy you? Have you forgotten that the Scriptures make it clear he closely observes all that is ongoing in your life (1 Peter 5:8), that he prowls around seeking the right time to devour you? Do you not know that he loves to seize upon the trials, tribulations and sorrows he knows we must pass through in this world, seeing them as his opportunity to pounce?

From past experience I realize that my son must be very closely attended now. My simple child loved that Yellow Lab more than anything in this world. She was a true gift from Heaven, and now she has been taken back to Heaven. He is grief-stricken and stunned. His body literally shakes when he cries, which he does often throughout each day now. He keeps repeating, over and over, “Its not fair Dad. Why do bad things happen in this world?” He does it from the moment he wakes to the time he is asleep at night. Impaired individuals often perseverate (repeat themselves) in this manner.

As much as I love and have compassion for my son, this is deeply wearing on me. After all, I miss this dog too, and my physical condition and post-concussion issues have reared their head in recent months, causing many days to be of the “night of the living dead” variety. Worst of all is that I feel so helpless in terms of adequately comforting my deeply wounded son.

Have you ever suddenly realized that God has handed you an assignment, a cross, that you were ill-equipped to bear? You feel too weak … too exhausted … too spent. The cross you were carrying was already too heavy. Now this?!

Yes this, and my question above is rhetorical. God gives us more than we can handle all the time. I’ve written an entire chapter on this subject in my book, All the King’s Horses (the chapter is entitled “More Than We Can Handle)”. The higher question is not whether God will give us more than we can handle (He most certainly will) but where will we turn when He does give us more than we can handle? Will we rely on ourselves during our times of severe testing, or will we at long last look away from the mirror and choose to rely fully upon God?

As we answer this pivotal question, it will help us to remember that Jesus’ depiction of Satan’s malicious intent in John 10:10 constituted only the first half of that verse. The remainder of the verse reads as follows:

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10 b

What will it take for us to finally surrender to the Truth? We all say we believe we can to all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). It is time for us to truly believe this, and to flip over that coin to see the broader truth from Jesus own lips: “Apart from Me, you can do nothing” (John 15:4).

Let’s get back to Bryson’ question: Why do bad things happen in this world? Who is to blame for all the cruelty and unfairness? And what about the horror of death? Death is so vicious and cruel, irrespective of whether it is a beloved support Dog for a handicapped child, or a spouse or mother or father. Why in the world did God allow death? All the King’s Horses Ministry exists to help many broken, hurting people to answer this question.

Death came into God’s perfect world when the first man and woman chose sin by rejecting His perfect plan for them, accepting Satan’s lie that they’d be better off charting a course for themselves in this world, rather than obeying and walking with God. Before we are too hard on our first ancestors, let us remember that we have all chosen sin, and all of us face the consequence of sin, which is death.

God hates death even more than we do. He loves us more than we have even begun to know, and He knows that death breaks our hearts. Last night Bryson told me he feels like someone ripped out his heart and stomped on it. God not only hates death, but He devised an amazing plan to rescue us forever from its grip.

On the surface, the story of the Gospel is peculiar, even pathetic. God’s Son coming into the world to be defeated by evil and death, to suffer and die on a cross? What kind of victory is that? What kind of rescue?

Indeed, Jesus’ death on the cross appeared to be the greatest travesty of justice in history,and the greatest defeat of all time. It seemed, for a few days at least, that evil had triumphed, that Satan had conquered all that is good and holy. If they had social media in those days, the trolls on Twitter and Facebook would have been unrelenting: “Death wins! All hope is lost.”

Oh, but Jesus’ story wasn’t over yet! Praise God, Jesus rose again, paving the way for our life to continue with Him forever, even after our dying bodies fail us for the last time here. I’m convinced (even as C.S. Lewis believed) the same will prove true for our beloved animals in Heaven.

Every day of my son Bryson’s life has been a severe struggle in this world. Dakota’s participation in his journey will continue only in his heart and in his dreams for a while. This leg of his journey will be intensely hard, fraught with grief and loneliness.

But I believe there will be special rewards bestowed upon Bryson when He sees his Savior Jesus face to face. Dakota will be one of the first of the great gifts to be bestowed upon him there. She will no longer be sick and crippled then. She will be fully healthy and strong on that great day when He reunites the two of them, and their love story will continue in the presence of Jesus.

Please pray for Bryson as he grieves this great loss. Please pray for me as I search for a new support dog who will be his new best friend, the new love of his life. God always has the last word. Death does not, for all who trust in Him alone.

I ask each reader of this newsletter to recall that Jesus paid the price of His own precious blood to redeem us from sin, death and hell. Let’s recall also that God always sums all things up well. Indeed Jesus has risen! He rules and reigns, now and forever. He is our loving and compassionate Lord, and He is a dread Champion (Jeremiah 20:11). His power over evil is invincible.

The next time we sense the devil prowling around, seeking to devour us, let us be confident in declaring, “Get out of here Satan … I am turning this entire situation to my Savior Jesus … He has already beaten you … You are not welcome here! … No soup for you! … Be gone!

Your brother in the battle for Christ,
Barry Milazzo

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Please be generous in supporting this Ministry as we have experienced severe shortfalls in our ability to pay our expenses, including Barry’s modest salary. The purchase and training a new Support Dog for Bryson (a new love of his life) will soon be upon us.

A NUMBER OF YOU PURCHASED MY BOOK, All the Kings Horses – Finding Purpose and Hope in Brokenness and Impossibility, after our last newsletter. PLEASE KEEP DOING THIS – This brutally honest book has led many people to Christ. It will be an inspiration to any hurting person you know (Believer or Unsaved), especially during this Pandemic season. We sell the book at a loss (about $10 per copy).

YOUR PURCHASE OF THIS BOOK AND PASSING IT OUT – IS A GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT TO ME – PLEASE DROP ME A NOTE AND LET ME KNOW YOU DID THIS. AT YOUR REQUEST I WILL BE GLAD TO WRITE AND OR SPEAK TO ANYONE YOU PASS IT ON TO IN ORDER TO SHARE THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL.

PS: lease pray for me. My plate is incredibly full sharing the gospel with unbelievers who are hurting during this pandemic season, as well as engaging in daily opportunities even to encourage and empower believers through my free Pastoral Counseling ministry. Balancing all of this amidst of the constant interruption of Bryson’s needs and hurts is a supreme challenge. Please know that when I encourage you to stand firm and declare, “No Soup for You,” I am simultaneously reminding and encouraging myself.

But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24

All the Kings Horses Ministry, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt religious organization.

NO SOUP FOR YOU!

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