Naima loves helping folks find their purpose and follow their dreams while deepening their faith. Often called The Hollywood Christian, she believes everyone should find a reason to dance daily, enjoy the 80 degrees and a breeze of the LaLa at least once, and have her Grandmother's bread pudding or sweet potato pie on holidays. Both are divine! :=) -- Dr. Naima Lett, Author: Confessions of a Hollywood Christian, CoPastor: Hope in the Hills, Beverly Hills
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CONGRATULATIONS…
to fellow Howard University Alum Chadwick “Chad” Boseman for his leading role in the film “42” which opens this weekend.
“42” is about the life of baseball great, Jackie Robinson who integrated Major League Baseball joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
Good Peoples
I am thrilled for Chad, who was a directing major when we were at Howard. He’s been working his way through guest starring acting roles and independent film roles for a few years. Landing this lead opposite Harrison Ford is icing on the cake.
But what I want you to know most is that Chad is what we call “good peoples”. I know that’s not “good English”, but that’s how we describe folks that are truly good-natured. We hit it off because I’m from Georgia and Chad was from South Carolina and he was just “good peoples”. He was cool to everyone.
And Humble
If I had to describe Chad in one word it would be humble. And not like fake humility that we see sometimes. He’s genuinely an humble dude.
Jesus said in Matthew 5:5, Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. That’s what I think about. That’s the kind of humility that Chad models.
Gotta Go
I just wanted to drop you all a line this morning that there are some “good peoples” in Hollywood making good films about subject matter that makes a difference. Go out and support if you can.
I gotta go. They’re telling us to shut off our devices on my flight. Headed to New Jersey for a performance.
Reminder
Remember to tune in later today to the “Can Anything Good Come Out of Hollywood?” Faith & Hollywood Teleseminar that takes place today with me and Os Hillman, Thursday, April 11, 4 PM PT, 7 PM ET.
That’s the question Os Hillman, president of Marketplace Leaders asked when naming our Faith & Hollywood Teleseminar that takes place tomorrow, Thursday, April 11, 4 PM PT, 7 PM ET.
Os, author of the new book Change Agent and the creator of the TGIF (Today God Is First) devotional email, read my blog recently and invited me to dialogue with him, his Marketplace Leaders and Change Agent Network about what God is doing in Hollywood.
What Kind of Question?
Honestly, my first response when I received the email announcements with “Can anything good…?” across the top was “What kind of question is this?” LOL!
I would not think to ask that question because I’m living and working and ministering in Hollywood daily to make sure that something good – no, something great – comes out of Hollywood. My husband and I are pouring into artists and professionals and doing life with people who are committed to creating works that are fantastic without compromising our faith. And as LaLa as LaLa Land is, we still love this place and our people. This is it.
Fed Up
I was two seconds from calling and asking “Can we change the title?” when Kevin and I got to talking and realized Os’ intention. Os isn’t asking the question that we in Hollywood ask. Of course we think good things come out of Hollywood. Os is asking the question that his base and others outside of Hollywood are asking.
Who are they?
– concerned parents trying to find appropriate programming for their children
– sports fans hungering for entertaining, yet tasteful, half-time shows
– artists yearning for auditions and work that’s substantial and not demeaning
– professionals who want to unwind after work without being bombarded by soft porn
– folks tired of real housewives, Kardashains and Honey BooBoos
– people of faith who watched History’s The Bible series and wondered where the Bible was
– list goes on an on
Yes!
I feel you. I hear you.
Believe me, I get lots of Facebook posts and Tweets and emails from you expressing your frustration and sometimes I express my own. See The Bible Series: I Tried, Fam.
Still, on tomorrow’s teleseminar call, I’m going to argue Yes, there is some good coming out of Hollywood. God is always at work in the lives of His people, and we’re busy.
Come and See
In John 1:43-46, Jesus calls Philip to follow Him. Philip finds Nathanael to explain that they’ve found the Messiah whom the Law and prophets spoke of, Jesus of Nazareth.
“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asks. “Come and see,” Philip replies.
This is my invitation to you.
If you’ve ever wondered out loud (or under your breath) or you know someone who has asked, “Can anything good come out of Hollywood?”, come and see.
When you register to get the phone number to call in, Marketplace Leaders site says “Donation of any amount will give you access to the teleseminar. You may adjust amount of donation after you add item to cart.” So, any amount that you can share with their ministry gives you access to the call live and I think the recording thereafter.
I’d love to hear from you!
Folks will have a chance to ask question and dialogue too.
It was written for Diana Ross and Steve McQueen.
It became Whitney Houston’s onscreen debut and was produced by its star Kevin Costner.
Made for $25 million, it made $411 million worldwide.
Not to mention the wave of #1 songs it produced including Whitney’s version of “I Will Always Love You” (above) which shattered all records at the time and topped the Billboard 100 for 14 weeks.
The Bodyguard
I saw The Bodyguard on AMC last night. I couldn’t resist.
My first plan was to have fun identifying the scenes filmed at Greystone Mansion. But then, I got drawn into the story again. Whitney was believable playing herself. Two-time Academy Award winner Costner was classic Costner. The story was well written by Academy Award nominee Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Star Wars V & VI), and considered a good screenplay.
But, Why?
“But, why?” I asked myself midway through the movie.
Why did we consider this a good story… to the tune of $411 million, ranking #7 in 1992, only after the likes of Aladdin, Home Alone 2 and Batman Returns?
It’s a simple plot: Female in danger. Hero to the rescue.
We could insert any female leading lady here: Halle, Julia, Marilyn, Elizabeth – somebody’s bound to be rescued and carried away in arms, a limousine, an airplane, something.
Fantasy?
That’s the fantasy women want and men love to fulfill, right?
I’m joking, but I actually think the film resonates deeper than that. It goes back to the redemptive element that I talked about in Avatar, Titanic & The Avengers.
Hollywood’s biggest selling box office films of all time have been redemptive stories: Avatar, $2.782 billion – Sam sacrifices for Neytiri and the Na’vi people. Titanic, $2.185 billion – Jack gives his life making sure Rose will live. The Avengers, $1.511 billion – Iron Man intercepts the nuclear missile aimed at NYC and flies it into the space portal, knowing the likelihood that he won’t make it back.
We could go on and on. Skyfall, Transformers, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Dark Knight Rises, The Lion King… the Box Office Top 20 looks like the Who’s Who of Sacrificing One’s Life for Others.
The Bodyguard is no different.
Sacrifice
At one point, Kevin’s Frank and Whitney’s Rachel have the foreshadowing conversation that the prerequisite of a real bodyguard is the willingness to die for another.
As stated in my previous blog, I believe that we instinctively resonate with these stories because we yearn for redemption. We yearn to know that someone loves us so much that they’d give their very lives for us. Hollywood didn’t make this up. We’re only re-telling the Great Redemption story of God through blue aliens, sinking boats and dysfunctional superheroes and making money off of it.
Jesus tells His disciples, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,”John 15:13. Then He lays down His life for all of us, friends and enemies, that if we believe, we can be reconciled back to God. That’s love.
That same love is demonstrated through us as we sacrifice for our families, friends, co-workers, strangers. And we recognize that love when we see it played out onscreen in films like The Bodyguard (though technically, a bodyguard is paid for his/her services to protect a person’s life… just saying).
Today
How ’bout we find a way to show love today through the sacrifices we make for others?
Maybe we let a driver pass in front of us on our busy highways?
Maybe we do something for our loved one that would mean a whole lot to them without asking anything in return?
It may not be throwing ourselves in front of a bullet at the Academy Awards, or stopping a plane to get off and run back and kiss the person we love, but hey, it’s a start.
Traditionally, Easter lasts for 50 days from Easter Sunday through Pentecost Sunday. It’s supposed to be 50 days of celebration following those 40 days of Lent. Whew!
Par-tay!
Well, in the spirit of keeping the par-tay going, I wanted to share a dozen of our first pictures from service last Sunday. (SEE ABOVE). We had our first 3 baptisms and our first communion together. Beautiful milestones at Hope in the Hills. Our worship leaders Teka and Laurine sang, sang, sang. The lovely Jasmine Ford ministered in dance. We had visitors. We had fam. We ate and ate and had food leftover. It was a great day.
We’re still waiting to get the disc of photos. Our photographer, Clint Gellekanao of Clint Fotographie, (who is excellent, by the way) sent a few proofs. So, if you don’t see your smiling face yet, please know that it’s coming. We either didn’t have a picture of you yet OR we want to show your best side. (We’re still in Hollywood. Yal are not gonna be mad a me! :=)
Have a magnificent weekend. Let’s keep the party going!
Psalm 118:22-24
The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Mumford & Sons is the British folk quartet, formed in 2007, known for its waistcoat-wearing, foot-stomping, banjo-banging sound. They won this year’s biggest Grammy Award, Album of the Year, for their 2nd album, Babel, which had the biggest album debut in 2012.
The issue of faith kept rising to the surface because of leadman Marcus Mumford’s family and lyrics. His parents are founders of Vineyard Church in the U.K and Ireland. The Huffington Post noted that “the music of Mumford & Sons, for which Mumford is the main lyricist, is laden with the themes and imagery of faith — often drawing specifically upon the Christian tradition. They explore relationships with God and others; fears and doubts; sin, redemption, and most of all, grace.”
A pastor’s kid who writes lyrics about faith, redemption and grace must be Christian, right?!
Out of Mumford’s Mouth
Not so fast. Marcus Mumford doesn’t necessarily agree. Marcus has said that he does not call himself a Christian. In October 2012, Mumford explained to The Big Issue, “I don’t even call myself a Christian. Spirituality is the word we engage with more. We’re fans of faith, not religion.”
When asked by Rolling Stone if he considered himself Christian, Mumford again responded, “I don’t really like that word… It comes with so much baggage. So, no, I wouldn’t call myself a Christian. I think the word just conjures up all these religious images that I don’t really like. I have my personal views about the person of Jesus and who he was. Like, you ask a Muslim and they’ll say, ‘Jesus was awesome’ – they’re not Christians, but they still love Jesus. I’ve kind of separated myself from the culture of Christianity.”
If we listen to the words coming out of his own mouth, we would do well to stop trying to force Marcus Mumford to admit he’s Christian, closeted or otherwise. He clearly says how he feels.
What’s the Big Deal?
Why is this so important? Why does it continue to be a headline? Why are we as Christians so desperate to find celebrities to boast the name of our Lord?
Jesus ministered to everybody – poor, rich, famous, infamous. He didn’t get caught up on celebrity, hoping to snag endorsements to legitimize His place as Messiah. By the time He showed up and spoke truth to the top rulers, Pilate and Herod (who didn’t believe, by the way), He was on His way to a bloody cross to save the world.
Jesus says very plainly in Mark 8:34-38, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”
Those who follow Jesus will follow by way of that bloody cross. And we don’t get to do it secretly. It’s all out in the open where everybody sees and knows. And if we try to keep it secret, we face daily exposure… like reporters that keep asking if we’re Christian or not. Regardless of what you may believe, this walk is one walk that can’t be hidden.
Leave Mumford Alone
Family of faith, let Marcus Mumford be. He’s 26 and says he’s on a “spiritual journey”. His parents are pastors. He was a worship leader growing up and recently married Academy Award nominee Carey Mulligan, whom he met at a Christian youth camp. Maybe the most he can do right now, in his current state, is fill his music with Christian references.
Sure, we can pray for him, and I do, as I pray for many artists – known and unknown. But we can also stop trying to hand the cross to him or any other artist that does not want it. Jesus says for each one of us to consider the cost of following Him. If Mumford ain’t ready to be a spokesman for Christ, I ain’t making him one.
Today, I’m asking God to help me be the best ambassador for Him that I can be – to love the artists here in Hollywood and across the world that He’s entrusted to our care, to lead by example in humility and grace, to speak the truth in love, to walk in integrity, etc.
We are surprised by your answers! SEE CHART ABOVE
Are you surprised too?
Do the results line up with your preferences?
Our upcoming release strategy may have to be revamped based on your answers. We thought for sure the majority of the pie would be different; based on the fact that responders have been 60% under 45 and 40% over 45. Who knew?
WANT IN?
If you didn’t get a chance and you still want your voice to be heard:
You can EMAIL ME HERE, or
ANSWER anonymously below. Your choice.
Error: Contact form not found.
We’ll also tally on our social networks and see what more info you share.
Wow, Fam. I’m really… well, surprised. LOL!
ABOUT Confessions Confessions of a Hollywood Christian is the first book in the new series by award-winning actress and Doctorate in Ministry candidate Rev. Naima Lett. Through candid, entertaining stories about her journey as a minister breaking into Hollywood, Naima encourages us to experience the freedom of living in truth and accepting who God created us to be.
Truth Sets Us Free
Jesus says in John 8:31-32, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
Please click/pick one. I deeply value your opinion and we’re trying to figure out the best release. Most of our supporters have been saying they read now through their iPads, Kindles and Nooks. We’ve even had a couple of requests for the audio book. We will probably release first through electronic means, but do we even need to print hard copies?
ABOUT Confessions
For those who may be reading about this for the first time, here’s the skinny: Confessions of a Hollywood Christian is the first book in the new series by award-winning actress and Doctorate in Ministry candidate Rev. Naima Lett. Through candid, entertaining stories about her journey as a minister breaking into Hollywood, Naima encourages us to experience the freedom of living in truth and accepting who God created us to be.
Truth Sets Us Free
Jesus says in John 8:31-32, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” Ready for some truth-setting freedom? Me too!
Please let us know your choice.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Naima
Ever wonder why we have April Fool’s Day?
Good luck figuring it out. I tried this morning.
What is agreed upon is its origin is uncertain, its history is unclear, and nobody really knows when it became a worldwide phenom.
Faith Roots
It’s curious how many of our worldwide holidays stem from events of faith. On a side note, yesterday, Easter, was amazing. I hope to have pictures back soon to share with you. We had our first baptism and communion at Hope in the Hills, and it was beautiful.
Back to April Fool’s Day, some historians point to 1582 France when Pope Gregory XIII switched from a Julian calendar to the current Gregorian calendar. The previous Julian calendar celebrated the New Year for a whole week from March 25, the Feast of the Annunciation marking the visit of angel Gabriel to virgin Mary, to April 1. The new Gregorian calendar moved the New Year to January 1. Supposedly, news spread slowly of the switch, and folks who continued to celebrate the New Year on April 1st instead of January 1st were labeled as fools and ridiculed.
But that’s just 1 theory. There are at least 5 more.
Got Jokes
Somewhere between the 16th century and today, ridiculing fools caught on and became a “thing”. Now folks play jokes and pranks on each other, and it’s all in the name of fun.
I like to laugh. I like fun. But I always wondered why, as a child, I couldn’t really get into April Fool’s Day. When I look back on it, I think it has something to do with the day being about misleading people. I guess I never really understood that. LOL!
I got in the most trouble ever as a child if I dared not tell my parents the truth. Lying definitely was not good. Remember Exodus 20:16? “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” That was the real.
Got Pass
But I guess folks get a pass on April Fool’s Day?
I think I’m still gonna ask you to tell me the truth, no matter what day of the year it is. :=)
What do you think?
Celebrity cross tattoos: Justin Timberlake, Angelina Jolie, Colin Ferrell, Mary J. Blige, Christopher Meloni, Alyssa Milano
Hey, that cross is offensive.
It was 2,000 years ago.
It still is today.
We try to beautify it.
Diamond-bling it around our neck.
Stain-glass it at church.
Celebrity-tattoo it across our body.
But that’s like putting perfume on fertilizer. No amount of Unforgivable by Sean John or Glow by J.Lo can drown the stench of manure. So it is with that cross. It ain’t pretty.
Cross Offensive
Most medieval-type paintings portray a comely, fairly clean, malnutrition-looking Jesus gently placed on that cross. That’s not how it went down. Jesus was a bloody mess – flesh ripped, temples busted, blood coming down his face. He had been beaten and whipped and nailed.
Mel Gibson has gotten a lot of things wrong, but he got right that flogging scene in The Passion of the Christ. I’ve only been able to sit through it once. There’s no way that I could re-live that again and again. I feel the lashes. I smell the blood. It’s visceral. It’s offensive.
Why?
Because Jesus, God’s Son, who is perfect in every way and lived a completely sinless life, should’ve never allowed Himself to be humiliated and painfully murdered on that cross. But He did. Because there was no other way to get things right between us, the creation who is born sinful, and our Creator, who is sinless. God made Him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become righteous. 2 Corinthians 5:21. That’s our whole gospel. That’s the Good News. We have eternal life because the God-Man conquered death for us.
Jesus is the only One who could die in our stead. I believe He choose something as ugly as that cross because it symbolizes the death within us that He obliterated.
Crossed Up
So the next time we see Justin Timberlake, Mary J. Blige and Angelina Jolie posing sexily highlighting the crosses inked to their bodies, remember the One whose body was ripped to shreds to redeem them and us.
Thank God death is not the end of the story. Hebrews 12:2 says that we “fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” We can endure the offense of that cross because of the reward that awaits us.
Good Friday
Nothing that happened on “Good” Friday was good, but Hallelujah for Easter morn! There is an empty tomb because Jesus did exactly what He said He would do: He arose! Easter is coming, Fam! All offenses are retired on Easter, and we will shake the heavens with praise for a Savior who is alive.
“From Beautiful To Hideous, Top 45 Most Sensational Celebrity Feet”
That’s what the VH1 headline read promising a peak at Oprah Winfrey’s “extra pinky toe” to Taylor Swift’s “precious piggies”. From red carpet pumps to bare feet on the concrete, (see photo above), the VH1 gallery put celeb feet on blast… even noting their expectation that celebrities should be able to afford a weekly pedicure, despite the recession.
Wow. Who ever thought we’d be so judged by our feet?
Maundy Thursday
Today is Maundy Thursday all over the world, which means it’s all about the feet.
Maundy means “washing of the feet” referring to the Last Supper when Jesus washes His disciples feet (John 13:1-17). And in our very best Jesus’ impressions, once a year, the church rolls out the basins and towels, and people get to splashing.
More than a Pedicure
The commemoration is about so much more than flossing pedicures though.
Jesus sets an example of humility for us to follow. He’s does something so upside down again. The King, the God-Man, the One who should be served, gets down on his knees and serves. What?
In John 13, Jesus tells His disciples, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”
Just in case we are wondering what following Jesus looks like, here is where we need to start snapping photos. Following the Messiah looks like washing each other’s feet.
Not for the Faint-Hearted
This, my friends, is not for the faint of heart.
Feet are funny.
And extremely personal.
Have you ever tried to wash or even touch somebody else’s feet, other than your spouse or child? How did they react? How would you react if somebody tried to touch yours? Would you flex back? Jump? Kick?
I’ve served in ministry for a long time, so I have washed feet and I’ve had my feet washed. You get to know a whole lot about a person once you see their feet. And there are few things less humbling than bowing to wash somebody’s feet. I’m just saying.
Sensational or Not
Hopeful none of our feet will be blasted in VH1’s next “Most Sensational” list, but I think I can safely say that if we follow Jesus, we must consider that our brothers’ and sisters’ feet are the most sensational feet in the world and be willing to wash their feet and serve one another.
What do you think?
Feeling pretty sensational today?
Happy Maundy Thursday,
Naima
