Giveaway Archives - Struggling for Purpose

Christmas Under the Stars ft. Lauren Daigle – Review and Album Giveaway

This holiday season, my family will have to forego a few traditions in the interest of public and family health.

One tradition we won’t have to modify or miss is watching Christmas specials. It starts with “The Parade” on Thanksgiving and extends to numerous Christmas and holiday-themed TV shows.

This year we’re adding, “Christmas Under the Stars” with Lauren Daigle which you too can watch on December 6, 2020, at 9:00p ET | 6:00p PT. Stream FREE on BYUtv or on the BYUtv app.

ENJOY THE SONGS OF CHRISTMAS!

When it comes to Lauren Daigle, the only thing more powerful than the voice of this two-time GRAMMY-Award winner and multi-platinum-selling artist is her message. And this year, her first full-length Christmas television special, “Christmas Under The Stars with Lauren Daigle,” airs Sunday, December 6 at 9 p.m. EST on BYUtv.

You’ll hear Lauren’s Christmas memories and the influences of New Orleans Jazz in her renditions of Christmas classics and beloved originals from her Christmas album Behold in this intimate concert experience. So, gather the family, roast some chestnuts (or at least pop some corn), and enjoy “Christmas Under The Stars with Lauren Daigle” on Sunday, December 6 at 9 p.m. ET | 6 p.m. PT on BYUtv. You can also stream the program for free on the BYUtv app anytime after the premiere.

REVIEW

I don’t listen to a lot of Christian music. In fact, I don’t listen to a lot of music at all. I don’t think I can name one of Lauren Daigle’s songs. I’m more of a podcast guy. However, when the Christmas season is upon us, I listen to Christmas music. I don’t care who the performer is as long as it’s traditional Christmas music.

“Christmas Under the Stars” is packed with classic Christmas songs and traditional carols. Additionally, there are songs written by Lauren Daigle including Light of the World and I Will Rescue You. Throughout the special, Daigle shares memories from her life growing up in Louisiana.

I remember growing up watching Christmas specials on TV variety shows. Lauren Daigle’s performance and the sets in “Christmas Under the Stars” takes me back to those days sitting in front of the TV in my living room surrounded by friends and family.

The primary set feels a lot like what you’d see on those old shows and the format evokes a simpler, classier time. There’s not a lot of flash and flare. Lauren Daigle’s performance is front and center and the jazzy style makes you want to sing along.

I enjoyed watching “Christmas Under the Stars” and I think you will too. It’s something you can sit down and watch with your whole family or keep on in the background while wrapping presents or decorating your Christmas tree.

GIVEAWAY

As part of the promotion for this Christmas special, I’m hosting a giveaway. You could win a copy of Lauren Daigle’s Christmas album that includes the following songs:

1. Jingle Bells
2. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
3. What Child Is This
4. White Christmas
5. O Come All Ye Faithful
6. Light of the World
7. Christmas Time Is Here
8. O Holy Night
9. Little Drummer Boy
10. Silent Night
11. Winter Wonderland
12. Away in a Manger
13. O Come O Come Emmanuel

For your chance to win Lauren Daigle’s Christmas album Behold: A Christmas Collection all you need to do is comment below with your favorite Christmas carol.

I will randomly choose a winner after December 3, 2020. Please make sure you use an actual email address when you comment so I can contact you.

Disclosure: I received early access to this program in exchange for my honest review. In addition, I will receive a copy of the album being given away. I was not compensated financially for my participation in this campaign.

CSB Holy Land Bible Review and Giveaway

First Impressions

The first thing I noticed about this Bible was its weight. It’s a chunky book. I don’t think you’ll be holding this in one hand for long while you read it.

The pages are very white, turn easily, and the text is nice and black.

Flipping through the Bible, I found the color pictures to be vibrant and the layout easy figure out without reading the “features” section in the beginning.

About

From the publisher:

The CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible is a visually immersive Bible reading experience featuring over 1,200 images, maps, and illustrations to provide greater insight and understanding of the people, places, and events of scripture. Book-specific introductions provide the setting and circumstances of writing for each book, and every image includes a descriptive caption to help better understand what is pictured.

Features include:

1,200+ images, maps, and illustrations
275 full-length commentary articles
40+ “Digging Deeper” call-outs
Two-column text
9.5-point type
Easy to read, black-letter text
Footnotes
Two ribbon markers
Concordance
Size: 7″ wide, 9-3/8″ tall, 2-1/4″ thick when closed
Weight: 3 lbs. 13.4 oz.

Review

This is a high-quality Bible for people interested in exploring the settings, cultures, and context of the scriptures.

It’s not really designed as a Bible you’ll read every day. It’s something you pull out when you want to understand more about a passage you’re reading.

The pages are nice and white which helps the 9.5 font jump off the page. I’d prefer a little larger font but I don’t have to strain to read this Bible.

The articles and “digging deep” sections are well-written and provide additional depth to the passages you’re reading.

The color illustrations and photos are vibrant and help people who are visual learners.

I did find that some passages were interrupted abruptly by the articles and other features but it’s not enough to cause too much of a distraction.

Overall, I think people who are looking for a study Bible that they can reference when studying passages with historical context will like the Holy Land Illustrated Bible.

Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below by Nov. 30, 2020 for a chance to receive a free copy of the CSB Holy Land Illustrated Bible.

2 Hearts Trailer and Giveaway

2 Hearts isn’t a movie I would typically watch, however, my wife and girls were interested in seeing it so I teamed up with LEV3L and Freestyle Releasing to promote the film and give you an opportunity to win tickets to see it in theaters. Check out the trailer:

The trailer has 28 million views on YouTube, over 10 million views on Facebook, and nearly 80,000 views on Instagram!

Before the Wrath Review and Giveaway

Christians with an interest in end-times prophecy will find Before the Wrath captivating but those not interested in eschatology won’t be “caught up” by this film.

ABOUT

While scholars debate the timing of the Rapture, the world has lost why this event is prophesied to occur in the first place; knowledge that was once understood by those in the first century. Today, researchers in the Middle-East have rediscovered ancient anthropological evidence from the time of Christ that reveals exactly how and why the Rapture must occur; unveiling new biblical insight that will reignite hope for believers and prepare the world for what’s coming.

“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” —1 Thessalonians 5:1-2

Genre: Documentary, drama, inspirational
Rating: NR
Run time: 1:24
Studio: Ingenuity Films
Budget: $300,000
Starring: Narrated by Kevin Sorbo (God’s Not Dead, Soul Surfer, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys)
Director: Brent Miller, Jr.

Currently available to rent, stream or buy. Visit the official film site to learn more.

I Still Believe Review & Giveaway

When Jeremy Camp’s first album, Stay, first released I was unaware of the struggle and faith behind the album. It wasn’t until years later that I learned about the pain behind he lyrics of I Still Believe.

When I heard Jeremy’s story for the first time I thought, “Someone should make a movie about this,” and that’s exactly what happened.

About the Film

One love can change your life. One life can change the world. From the creators of I Can Only Imagine comes an inspiring love story for the ages. Rediscover the wonder of love in I Still Believe, based on the real-life story of chart-topping singer Jeremy Camp.

Genre: drama, inspirational, romance
Rating: PG
Run time: 1:56
Starring: starring KJ Apa (Riverdale, A Dog’s Purpose), Britt Robertson (A Dog’s Purpose, The Space Between Us, Tomorrowland), Gary Sinise (Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, CSI) and Shania Twain.
Available on Blu-ray, DVD, & Digital May 5, 2020.

The film was the #2 new movie, its opening weekend (3/13/2020) and the #3 movie overall for the week. It was rushed to video on demand (3/27/20), following theater shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read the review