Savings Angel Top 3 Deals - Every Tuesday!

COLGATE TOOTHPASTE SENSITIVE (6 oz). $3 RiteAid Wellness +Up Reward. LIMIT 1

Regular price: $4.49
Sale price: $3 at RiteAid

Coupon: 50 cents (July 25 SmartSource Insert) PLUS $3 RiteAid Wellness +Up Reward, Limit 1

Final Price: FREE PLUS 50 cents

SavingsAngel says: Get paid to keep those sensitive teeth minty fresh.

PUREX 3 IN 1 LAUNDRY SHEETS (20 loads). $1 on 2 RiteAid Wellness +Up Reward. LIMIT 1

Regular price: $9.99
Sale price: $3 at RiteAid

Coupon: $1 at www.purex.com PLUS $1 on 2 RiteAid Wellness +Up Reward, Limit 1

Final Price: $1.50

SavingsAngel says: Leaves clothes smelling and feeling fresh plus keeps the money in your pocket.

SOFTSOAP HAND SOAP PUMP (7.5 oz)

Regular price: $1.47
Sale price: 98 cents at Walmart

Coupon: 50 cents at www.colgate.com

Final Price: 48 cents

SavingsAngel says: Wash up on this great deal.

Chef Sanches Strikes Again.

Each week, from Rush Creek Bistro, Chef Sanches brings in a creation from his kitchen. Fabulous Chicken Marsala, Strawberry Shortcake to die for, and pizza unlike any other. Today he tops himself once again. A brand new pasta dish named (of all things) "Pasta Emilee". I can't believe it - an actual dish named after me. Yes, Pasta Emilee will be on the buffet this Thursday for "An Evening On The Patio". It's sure to be a night of stand up comedy as unique and delightful as the food that can only be found at Rush Creek Bistro.

savings Angel Top 3 Deals - Every Tuesday!

Shedds Country Crock Spread (15 oz tub or 2 pk 7.5 oz tubs). Assorted varieties.

Regular price: $1.51
Sale price: 99 cents at Meijer

Coupon: 40 cent printable at www.countrycrock.com

Final Price: 59 cents

SavingsAngel says: Butter up with these hot savings.

Quaker Rice Cakes (3-3.5 oz). Select varieties.

Regular price: $1.69
Sale price: $1.25 at Meijer

Coupon: $1 on 2 printable at www.quakeroats.com

Final Price:75 cents

SavingsAngel says: Grab a healthy snack on the go.

Bayer Aspirin Daily Regimen (32 ct)

Regular price: $2.59
Sale price: $1 at Family Fare

Coupon: $1 printable at www.bricks.coupons.com

Final Price:FREE

SavingsAngel says: What's good for the heart is good for the wallet!

Huggies Diapers Pull Ups Jumbo Pack

Regular price: $12.49
Sale price: $8.99 at CVS

Coupon:$2 printable at www.pull-ups.com PLUS $3 Extra Care Bucks, Limit 1

Final Price:$3.99

SavingsAngel says: A small price for big kid pants.

Celsius Green Tea (4 pk)

Regular price: $7.99
Sale price: $7.99 at CVS

Coupon:$2 printable at www.trycelsius.com PLUS $7.99 Extra Care Bucks, Limit 1

Final Price:FREE + $2

SavingsAngel says: Try this with your next workout.

"Blue Miracle" is Ready For Auction!

It's been an exciting journey. The heartwarming story of these two incredible horses. The theraputic hours at the canvas. Chris' relentless search for the perfect frame while I shopped the Christmas aisles. FYI, yes Hobby Lobby has Christmas in! It has all come together and while it's a little nerve racking to put your art out there for everyone to see and critique, it is exciting nontheless. I just hope that whoever's home it eventually hangs in, it will serve as a reminder of this:

Through God All things are possible. Even if all signs indicate you will probably not make it. Through the suffering of the dark gray storm, God can perform a Blue Miracle.

Horseplay Equestrian

Saturday seems to approaching so fast. Last night I pulled my "Blue Miracle" painting out into a different room to get a little different light on it. This gives me a chance to see things I may not have noticed before. Of course, different light reveals things. I have a few more areas to work on. I hope I will be satisfied with the end result. Come Saturday it's done - no matter what I think, it goes on the auction block. DEADLINES MAKE ME NERVOUS!

I'll try to get a photo up soon, but in the meantime, find out more about these amazing horses and the ranch we will be speaking at on Saturday. Go to http://www.horseplayequus.com/

Toothpaste Wars

It rarely happens, but this morning Chris & I ended up at our sinks to brush our teeth at the exact same time. We both reached for the toothpaste, but I was just a few miliseconds ahead of him. As I go to squeeze some paste on my brush, Chris reaches over with his brush in hand. His silent request for me to put some paste on his brush as well. So I LOVINGLY stop mid stream and go to put that initial dollup on his brush first. Of course, it was the first squeeze of the day and a glob larger than anticipated fell onto his bristles.

But instead of a thank you, Chris' response to my selfless act was, "A little much, don't you think?" This took me back a bit, (another way of saying "miffed"). So I thought I would return the favor by smearing an ample dollup of toothpaste on his chest and shoulder. I responded to his look of shock with "A little much, don't you think?"

So Chris showed up to work a little sticky, but minty-fresh none the less. And by the time he had finished telling his sad sob story on air, we were definitely laughing louder.

Good News - We are celebrating freedom today!

It's a good day! Mosab Hassan Yousef was granted permission to stay in the United States. It took the judge only 15 minutes to hand down the decision. Kind of a no-brainer. Despite the recommendation of the FBI that Yousef stay in the United States, the Dept. of Homeland Security ruled he was a terrorist threat and wanted him deported. Yousef says he hopes to become an American citizen someday. Our country could use more men and women with the faith and courage of Mr. Yousef.

God Bless America!

So much to do, so little time.

With Celebration Freedom coming up on Saturday, the fourth of July on Sunday I thought I better not wait til the weekend to get a little further on my painting. This is probably the toughest part of the whole thing. The final details. Putting on the last few layers of paint has the potential of either bringing it closer to what you ultimately want or the potential to muck it up. What I love about acrylics and oils is that as long as you keep the medium wet, you can keep moving the paint arount until you have it the way you like it. After it's dry, if you don't like it, just put a few more layers over the top. It's giving and forgiving. The goal of our spiritual walk with Christ. Staying pliable in the master's hand so you too can be giving and forgiving until you finally reflect what the creator desires. Now the question becomes, at what point is it finished?

Thursdays With Our Congressman

Today we had an opportunity to ask Congressman Hoekstra about a distubing trend that seems to be surfacing. Former muslims who have converted to Christianity, come here legally seeking political asylum, are now facing deportation. While at the same time, bans on people with known ties to Hamas are lifted. For example:

Hussein Wario, who graduated from Hope College here in MI, has been denied his appeal for asylum.

Mosab Hassan Yousef, who we talk about in our April 26th blog, is also facing deportation.

While Wario is from Kenya and Yousef from the Middle East, these two men have several things in common.

1. They are here legally.
2. They are men who contribute positively.
3. They have converted to Christianity from Islam.
4. They have written books about the dangers of Islam.
5. They are now facing deportation.

Meanwhile, a man by the name of Tarik Ramadan, who is KNOWN to be assisting Hamas has now been cleared to enter the United States. People are taking notice and groups beginning to seek help from members of congress. We believe this is very important and will be continuing to talk with Congressman Hoekstra about it in the weeks to come.

Old Church, New Church, His Church, Same Church

It's like one of those nonsensical Dr. Seuss stories that ultimately has an underlying message for us all. A church formerly known as Christ Community in Spring Lake, MI has changed the name and now removed a cross that once adorned it's bell tower. Why? Well, according to C3Exchange pastor, Rev. Ian Lawton, it was to reflect their diverse members which include Muslims, athiests, and Buddhists. I am so happy to say the story drew out more response from listeners than any other story we've done. Happy because today we saw a unified body of believers come together under the cross of Christ. Quite literally. Check out The Chris and Emilee Show facebook thread.

Okay, my first question: Why in the world does an athiest need a church?
Second question: At what point does it no longer fit the definition of a church? The church is defined in the Bible as the people in whom Christ dwells. The "body of believers". So what if that body of people don't believe Christ is who He said He is? You no longer have a body of "believers", so how can it still be a church? Isn't that like putting dogs in a parking lot, calling them ponies and then claiming you're on a ranch?

The removal of the cross specifically was due to the fact that according to Lawton, "has become a negative symbol for a lot of people".

So ultimately, the question becomes: What does God's word say about all this? After all there is nothing new under the sun and it is salvation history from beginning to end. Well, lets' see:
First, this doesn't take the Lord by suprise. He knew it would happen: "For a time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." 2 Tim 4:3. So much so, people took offense to Jesus, himself. Nevertheless, He tells us what to do: "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. Matthew 10:27

If you cannot proclaim Christ by a cross on the bell tower of your building, then you are no longer a church. For the church belongs to Christ alone.