Saving Christmas - Review and Giveaway

It seems like every Christmas there is a debate over the validity over what people choose to incorporate as part of their Christmas celebrations. Some people don't like anything but nativity and others pull out all the stops with Christmas trees, Santa Claus and everything under the sun. But how has Christmas gotten so twisted with so many divisions over what should and shouldn't be allowed, are the Christmas Trees and Santa Claus really pagan symbols? What about Jesus, isn't He being lost in all the commercialism, in all the buying of presents? You might just be surprised if you're one of the many who believed that there are some things that should be omitted from your Christmas celebration besides the words Merry Christmas.

Kirk Cameron decided to dig deep into the origins of Santa Claus, the Christmas Tree and many of the other decorations we put up as part of our Christmas celebrations. It seems lately the joy is been completely taken out of Christmas and instead leaving us even more divided on the issue than ever before. In his movie Saving Christmas that is in select theaters on November 14th, Kirk finds himself at his sister Bridgett's Christmas party. Everyone is in the full spirit of celebrating except for her husband Christian. Christian has excluded himself from the celebration because he firmly believes that all this Christmas stuff has put Jesus on the back seat while all these pagan symbols are being worshiped instead. He struggles to find out where any of these are in the Bible. Kirk firmly takes the time to explain how the Nativity is more than what any of us considered. From the manger itself to the symbolism of Jesus' birth and what was happening in the world at that time. What the significance of the swaddling clothes Jesus was wrapped in and how will they make a return appearance later in his life?

This is such an impactful movie not only in the way it tackles all the hard issues like pagan symbols or religious symbols? Where can we find why we celebrate on December 25th, and just how God has impacted this time of the year to celebrate? How we can realize that all the stuff we celebrate is really pointing to Jesus, even Santa Claus? My family and I had the honor to watch this exclusively before it aired in theaters thanks to Provident Films and Propeller LLC for my honest review, and we all honestly loved it. Now we have a more firm foundation of explaining things to those who would try and take the fun and joy out of the Christmas celebrations. It has given us new life to our Christmas celebrations again and now I am so super excited to feel free to celebrate the way we have as we grew up without having to justify anything. This is such a sweet, funny and definitely learning experience for the entire family. It is wonderful to see Kirk Cameron provide just what so many believers and non believers have been waiting for.

I received my invitation to review Saving Christmas compliments of Provident Films, CamFam, and Propeller LLC for my honest review and did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review. This is such an educational and fun family film for the entire family. The origins of so many of our Christmas favorites are explained in this incredible film. The movie will be in select theaters beginning November 14th for a limited engagement of only two weeks, so you don't want to miss this one. I easily rate this movie a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for it to come out on DVD so I can add this one to my must watch Christmas movie collection. I think watching it before Christmas is perfect to get you into the right Spirit for the reason for the season! And it's all about Jesus!

For more information about Saving Christmas, Provident Films and where you can get more information about where this movie is playing near you, please click on the links below:

Saving Christmas by CamFam and Provident Films

You can find Saving Christmas on Facebook to stay up to date on all the latest information.

Now for the fun amazing part! Thanks to Provident Films and Propeller LLC, they are giving away some Saving Christmas SWAG to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. It includes a signed by Kirk Cameron Saving Christmas movie poster, the soundtrack to Saving Christmas and a Saving Christmas air freshener (smells like Christmas Trees!!!) Here are your guidelines to enter:

1. "Like" Saving Christmas on Facebook and leave a comment.

2. Be a resident of the US or have a US Shipping address. Please No P.O. Boxes.

3. Leave a comment below telling me what you are looking forward the most to seeing the movie, Saving Christmas. Don't forget to include your email address. I will need a way to contact you if your the lucky winner of the Saving Christmas SWAG.

I will notify the winner of the giveaway by email when it ends on November 21st. So be sure to spread the word and tell your friends and family to go see Saving Christmas on November 14th! The movie will only be in theaters for two weeks so don't miss it!!!

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.”

Unstoppable - DVD Giveaway and Review

Have you ever stopped and wondered just why does God allow bad things to happen to good people? Is He capable of preventing it? Does He care? Does He even hear your prayers? Why is  this one question the reason so many Christians give up their faith when adversity falls into their own lives and death claims yet another great person, a believer in Christ? When cancer claims another victim and despite all the prayers, healing doesn't come?

Actor Kirk Cameron takes a hard look at just why this happens and finds the answers by going back through the Bible in hopes of providing some clarification as he examines the death of 15-year-old Matthew Sandgren, a close friend of his that losses his 10-year battle with cancer. Kirk takes viewers into the beginning with the creation of Adam and Eve, the fall in the garden of Eden, the flood of Noah, and the coming of Jesus Christ.

In the end, I think Kirk stimulates us to consider all the facts of why bad things continue to happen to good people and offers us hope that when this life is over, we will have everlasting life. It helped me accept things on a much broader scale and realized just how much God cares for all of us despite the circumstances in our lives that hit home when we least expect them. As believers in Jesus Christ, we all know that our life is limited and we will face death, but it doesn't end for us there. It still affects us when we lose someone we love, because of that loss of their presence in this life, here on Earth. We miss them and want to be with them again. That loss is what grieves us the most, not that death claimed them, and now they are restored in heaven. We know we will see them again and then nothing will separate us thanks to what Jesus did through the sacrifice of His death on the cross. Does it answer the why? Not entirely but then again only God knows the reasons why He does what He does and for us, in time, it will be enough for now.

In theaters for only two weeknights (Sept 24th and Oct 3th, 2013), UNSTOPPABLE: A Live Event with Kirk Cameron sold a staggering 260,000 tickets and reached a theatrical gross of over $3.2 million dollars. In just two nights this independent project sent a loud message – audiences want thought-provoking and meaningful entertainment.   

I received Unstoppable by Provident Films compliments of FlyBy Promotions for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed are strictly my own. This was an interesting DVD to watch and it's hard to define what it is, It's not really a documentary or a movie but more of a heart to heart look at sitting down with Kirk Cameron taking a hard look at why bad things happen to good people. I wanted to see this movie when it came out in theaters but missed the chance since it only had a single air date. Now I was thrilled to review this DVD and be able to share it with you. It really makes you consider things from the creation of the world to where we are at today and hopefully it offers a glimmer of hope in the midst of tragedy. I easily rate this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars.

About Kirk Cameron: 
Kirk Cameron is best known for his memorable role as “Mike Seaver,” a cultural icon of the 80's, with his mullet hairstyle, cool glasses, and wisecracking comebacks. More recently he enjoyed much success with the No. 1 grossing inspirational film of 2008, Fireproof, and his recent documentary, Monumental. Kirk and his wife, Chelsea, were on-screen sweethearts during their Growing Pains years and are the founders of Camp Firefly, where terminally and seriously ill children and their families are provided an all-expense paid retreat (www.CampFirefly.com). Together, Kirk and Chelsea live in California with their six children.

About Provident Films: 
Provident Films, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, produces, markets, and distributes faith-based films. The company is part of Nashville-based Provident Music Group, which has been one of the world’s leading Christian entertainment companies for more than three decades.  Films from the company have included Courageous, October Baby, Fireproof, and Facing the Giants. More info is available at ProvidentFilms.org.

For more information about Unstoppable, Provident Films or where you can pick up a copy of this DVD today, please click on the links below:

Unstoppable: The Movie

Now for the good part, thanks to Provident Films and FlyBy Promotions, they are offering a giveaway copy to one lucky follower of my blog, Reviews From The Heart. Here are your details to enter:

1. Be a follower of my blog Reviews From The Heart. 

2. Be a resident of the US or Canada or have a US or Canada shipping address. No P.O. Boxes please.

3. "Like" Unstoppable's Facebook page.

4. Leave a comment below telling me why you'd love to win a copy of this DVD along with your email address. You can use the words (at) and (dot) instead of the symbols.

The giveaway will end on February 10th and the winner will be notified by email. Remember if you have already won this DVD in a giveaway, you are not eligible to win again. This giveaway will be subject to verification to prevent multiple winners of the same giveaway.

"Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

Monumental: In Search of America's Treasure

I had the rare opportunity to capture on my DVR, Kirk Cameron's new documentary, Monumental: In Search of America's Treasure and let me assure you, I can bet this will NOT be seen on the Discovery Channel or the History Channel or even debated on any of the major networks because it goes against everything happening in our government today including how we arrived at the current economic crisis we find ourselves faces with today. It's also one that liberals and those in the government would prohibit from being shown but if you truly value the truth that this country was founded on, I would seriously encourage you to watch this for yourself, do some of the research on the things sited and answer the question yourself, is there an answer to get ourselves out of the mess this country is in right now? Is the government the answer? Or is the answer to our world-wide dilemma much simpler than we ever thought possible?

I challenge you to watch this documentary and decide for yourself. The documentary itself opens with Kirk Cameron asking the question I think every person in this country is asking themselves and especially us as Christians, is this world going to hell in a handbasket? Why aren't we doing anything about it? Some merely sit back with an attitude that if the world is going into chaos, isn't it good because it simply means Jesus is coming back sooner than we had anticipated? If that is the case and as Christians, we sit back and actively do nothing to stop it, isn't this then becoming a self-fulfilled prophecy? This is perhaps the best line in the film for me as a Christian to sit up and take notice. We have the power to change it, despite what our current government may want to tell us, that this is a nation, the United States, that was founded on Christian (Biblical-based) principles, it always has been and it's been changed along the way.

The documentary begins where the birth of America began with the Pilgrims coming to this country and what their true purpose was in coming here. Kirk takes a trip back to England and talks with an English historian to learn about what their religious beliefs were and what was happening in their country during this time. I caution you, this is NOT the stuff I was taught in school and found it so interesting. It is in fact, what my daughter is learning in her home school/charter school class however, and thus provides the foundation for the drive for the Puritans to leave England under the power the Catholic church was demanding as the government for the King at that time. (Funny isn't it, how church and state at that time, were working as one, however not as God designed, as man had a need for power and greed).

Kirk than heads for Holland because due to the beliefs of the Puritans, they were considered outlaws since they were going against the beliefs of the church at the time, not against the beliefs of the Bible and they were wanted men. We then learn after 12 years of learning about God's word in the only place that they could find religious freedom, they went back to England, hired out two ships, the Mayflower and the Speedwell, but when the later ship cracked they had to go back. Only half of the citizens were able to set sail on the Mayflower and arrived 8 weeks later in America.



I won't get into more of the movie at this point so you can enjoy your own discovery but I did love knowing about the National Monument to the Forefather in Plymouth, referred to in the documentary as the Matrix of Liberty, built 130 years ago as a way for America never to forget how this nation began and the principles that would work to help our country get back on track should it ever begin to fall apart. You can learn more about this incredible monument here. This the blue print to restore America and one I never heard about until today and am astounded that I never learned this as part of our American History.

This is such an powerful movie that I would encourage every single person to watch this and see for themselves just where we fell short and why we are in the mess we are in today. Why violence in the schools is running out of control; why our constitution and laws from our forefathers are being questioned and redefined; why our education system is failing and why what our kids are being taught is out of our hands; why our country that was once blessed and prosperous is rapidly falling apart at the seams. Isn't this worth a look at to judge for yourselves?



My review of this documentary is based on my honest opinion and I received no compensation for my review from any one in regards to this documentary but it is one I think every single Christian American should be watching. We still have it in our power to change things. We don't have to sit back on our hands while the government does nothing but steer us in the wrong direction. God gave us a plan and it's time to rise together and begin with our families. To educate them, to raise up a generation that will pick up the pieces before it all falls apart and we should be willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. I rate this film as a 10 out of 10 stars and look forward to hearing your thoughts on this documentary. I can only hope we learn from our history, and not repeat what happened in the Roman Empire for it we do, we already know what happened to that one.

For more information on Monumental: In Search of America's Treasure, Kirk Cameron or where to purchase this DVD today, please click on the links below:

Kirk Cameron Presents ~ Monumental: In Search of America's Treasure

You can also follow the movie page on Facebook and learn more interesting facts about this nations history by clicking here.