NAIMA LETT – BLOG | HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Happy Thanksgiving from the Hills



© 2014 Kevin & Naima in the Hills

Wishing you an outstanding holiday filled with family, friends, food & fun!

We’re grateful for another year, and this one has been so wonderfully full. Kevin and I celebrated 13 years of marriage, and we thank God for 12 years cancer-free this holiday. Yay! Kevin just returned from amazing work in D.C. (shout out H.U.) and I’ve turned all my attention to knocking out my doctoral dissertation on Hollywood’s values and ministry, only taking periodic breaks for Academy Award season screenings. This year, I landed on the SAG Awards nominating committee, which is great. We’re excited to enjoy Thanksgiving again with our Hope in the Hills fam, who are amazing.

We cannot THANK YOU enough for your love, prayers and support. God has multiplied your care towards us to bless countless others here in Hollywood and across our globe. Please look forward to our YEAR END update coming soon will all the details. In the meantime, rejoice with us, will you? We took this photo awhile ago hanging in the Hills, and our joy and contentment remains. May the same invade your holiday season.

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Legacy, Dallas Seminary & Dallas Next Week
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PHOTO: What wonderful collage as diverse as heaven! Can you find me? Hint: Look up 🙂

What’s your legacy, Fam?

The longer I live, the more I meet folks who are fighting to leave a lasting legacy – for God, for their families, for themselves. And while many people think our industry here in Hollywood solely revolves around money (which motivates most capitalistic businesses), I meet more artists who chase legacy over money – we want to create and transform our world.

As Kevin and I live-streamed the 90th Anniversary Celebration of Dallas Theological Seminary last night (photo above), I was so encouraged and inspired by the deep legacy. God’s footprint is all over our world because so many of His kids answered His calling and walked where He said walk, preached where He said preach, and loved where He said love.

It’s incredible to be part of something so much bigger than self, to link arms across decades and know that He who began a good work in us will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus… Phil 1:6

Happy 90th Anniversary, DTS!

Thanks a million for including what God’s doing here in LaLa Land in the video highlights. We’re honored to serve as part of such a rich heritage in our Lord. If He tarries, and we’re still on the battlefield in a decade, God-willing, we’ll make our way to the Centennial Celebration!

Dallas Next Week

In the meantime, I hope to see many Dallas Fam next week. Northeast Bible Church invited me back to Dallas to present Shattered Silhouettes for their Women’s Conference on Saturday, October 25th. There are seminars around silhouettes throughout the day, lunch and Shattered for only $15. Margertree Holmes and her team have created a phenomenal day. REGISTER: http://www.northeastfamily.org/shattered

Here’s what’s really cool, reflecting on legacy and DTS! Northeast Bible Church is led by DTS alum Pastor Robert Rice and was started as a church plant 9 years ago from North Dallas Community Bible Fellowship, where I taught an Artists Workshop last year. And North Dallas was started as a church plant 25 years ago by DTS alum Dr. Leslie W. Smith, who is retiring this year and transitioning leadership to my DTS classmate, friend and fellow artist Dr. Terren Dames. I’m encouraged by the legacy of these church plants, but I’m also grateful that generation upon generation, God’s work continues through His willing servants.

Holler!

Dallas Fam, holler at me. I’ll be on campus during DTS’ Arts Week, “Image of the Invisible”, which includes talks by Dr. Robert Johnston who I recently shared a panel with here in Hollywood. I’ll be connecting with students and possibly recording another Table podcast with Dr. Darrell Bock on the new film, The Good Lie, starring Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon. I love how DTS is engaging with culture and leading our communities to do the same. Looking forward to seeing everyone! And if you’re getting this update and you’re not in Dallas, please send up some prayers for your girl.

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

P.S. No less love for my other alma maters, so, shout out to our Howard U fam celebrating HOMECOMING this weekend, and shout out to soon-to-be BIOLA/TALBOT alum as we continue pushing through our doctoral dissertations. PUSH!

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
WE ARE THE WORLD
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WE ARE THE WORLD, Fam.

That’s the first thought that crossed my mind as we compiled the diverse photos (above) of our Hope in the Hills Fam, Friends and Guests gathering this Saturday 9/27, 6 PM for our Evening of Prayer & Praise during the National 10 Days of Prayer coordinated in Los Angeles by the Hollywood Prayer Network between Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur.

THE ORIGINAL

The original WE ARE THE WORLD written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced by Quincy Jones, and recorded in studios not far from here in Beverly
Hills and Hollywood, brought together over 40 world-renown singers, raising over $63 million in aid for Africa and the US. The song and video of such unity in diversity spun that single to become the fastest-selling American pop single in history and the first ever certified multi-platinum single. It went on to win several awards in 1985 and sell over 20 million copies. Why?

WE’RE HUNGRY

I think deep down, the experience touched something inside each one of us. We’re all desperately hungry for the unity WE ARE THE WORLD represented. Folks put aside their egos and agendas and came together to focus on one goal, one cause. The song raised money for relief from the famine in Ethiopia, but we’re all hungry for more, aren’t we?

MORE THAN WE ARE THE WORLD

Which brings me to my final thought: “We’re more than we are the world. We’re out of this world!” Each one of us has a God-sized longing on the inside for more than the brokenness that we see in this world. We long for togetherness and peace and community and that great heavenly multitude that John saw in Revelation 7:9 of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne of our Lord. We long for the healing of our nations and cities and families that only God can bring.

WE’RE COMING TOGETHER

So, we’re coming together to pray to God, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Matt 6:10 We will pray for unity, the nations, our nation, our families and children, our City of Angels and our entertainment industry. And we will praise God through songs and music and dance. We put aside all egos and agendas. There is only ONE STAR on our red carpet as far as we’re concerned, and that’s OUR LORD. You are welcome to join us on Saturday. If you’re not here in LaLa Land, look on the 10 Days of Prayer and see if there are cities in your area praying and join them. You can pray wherever you are! God’s kingdom come, God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

An Evening of Prayer & Praise
Followed by food and fellowship
SAT. SEPT 27th, 6:00 PM
Hope in the Hills
1200 S Hope Street FL 2
@ Vocal Corner Store
Los Angeles, CA 90015

Please let us know if you’ll join us so we have enough food.
RSVP at http://HopeintheHills.net/PrayerPraise

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
WHAT ATTRACTS YOU?
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What attracts you, Fam?
That’s what I need to know.
Good music, food, gifts? All of the above?

You may be aware by now that our Hope in the Hills fam is hosting An Evening of Prayer & Praise next SAT 9/27 6PM as part of LA’s 10 Days of Prayer. So, I’m trying to figure out how to get folks out.

As I spoke with one of our beautiful fam/PR specialist, it became clear that because of what’s attractive to me, I assume “Everybody values prayer! Who wouldn’t want to gather and sing and pray and eat and fellowship?” Is that true? We don’t know. When I don’t know, I ask somebody.

Hello, Somebody! Is this type of evening attractive to you? We’ve been given a fabulous space downtown on Hope Street (Thank you, Nick!). We’ve invited incredible and diverse vocalists, dancers, musicians, pastors and friends to participate including the West Los Angeles Children’s Choir. We’ve already started fasting and praying as we prepare to gather for UNITY and send up our petitions and songs to the heavenlies, and we’ve planned a scrumptious dinner with great fellowship. We think all these things are fantastic, but what do you think?

Would you allow me to have a little fun in this post and throw out some facetious ideas to see if these attract you? Please don’t take these seriously. I don’t.

DOES THIS WORK FOR YOU?

Prayer is Sexy

Would it work if we said that prayer is sexy? It isn’t, really, but would that attract you? Talking to God is incredibly intimate, but sexy – not so much. Prayer is normal and conversational. There are times when things are downright ugly with crying, or joyous with dancing, or even stillness with silence. Most times, though, prayer is just regular. And that’s how we usually are – regular folks talking regular to our Lord.

Celebrity Networking

Do we need to invite celebrity friends and promise you networking opportunities? Would that work? Yal know I’m very tight-lipped in this area. Folks don’t know who I know. But I’ve been told regularly that if we want folks to come out, we need to parade our friends before you, which seems incredibly insensitive to me. I’m not sure how we got to the place where talking to God needs celebrity validation, but if this motivates you, hey, let us know!

You’ll Get Some Stuff

Do you need to get some stuff? If so, what? A gift bag? A promise? I was told that I need to show you some benefits for you to come. Really? Okay, some benefits are you’ll know that you’re not alone in the LaLa. We have great community, fellowship, worship, authenticity. This whole night is part of a larger international movement, so we’re jumping into a river of prayer and praise that’s moving all over the world.

Look, we believe in prayer. We know that God answers. We’ve experienced miracles. We’ve seen God move mountains, fight battles, create work, heal, save, deliver, provide, love and walk with us. We think it’s amazing that He actually allows us to participate and be on the front-lines talking and listening with Him as the spectacular drama of our lives unfold.

I’ve made a lot of jokes today, but the truth is I can share who we are and what we’re doing and Who God is and what He’s doing and trust that His Spirit draws and gives you a desire for more of Him. Will your needs be met? God loves you. If you ask, He hears you. We may not always get exactly what we want, but God meets our needs according to His will.

Wind Machines

And if all else fails to attract you, we can rent wind machines to whip our hair around while we praise and worship. If that’s the only way you’ll come hang out, make your requests known.

Thanks for letting me have a little fun today.

Hope to see you next week. Let me know if you’re coming, and please spread the word. And if you’re out of town, please pray for us. God has really been close to us lately and we know He wants to heal the nations, our nation, our city, our families and our industry. We’ve got an assignment, and we will be on post SEPT 27th, having a good time with angels in our City of Angels.

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
TAKE A BOW
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© Greater Allen Cathedral 2014 Worship Conference

Hi Fam,

I’ve missed you and communicating weekly through the blog, but hopefully this temporary sacrifice will be worth it all come Friday, May 22, 2015 when prayerfully I’ll joy cross commencement’s stage having officially completed the doctoral degree.

Take A Bow

That would be a time when my Hollywood fam would quote Rihanna and say, “Take a Bow!” “Receive your applause. You deserve it!” And don’t get me wrong, if nobody else claps, your girl (and hopefully my husband) will be clapping for herself. Don’t sleep! You might be watching the live stream and see this little caramel chip in a graduation gown break out with a roundhouse cartwheel into a James Brown split. I’m joking, but not really…:=)

And nothing’s wrong with taking a bow at the completion of our work, but ever since I returned from Greater Allen Cathedral’s “Living Sacrifices” Worship Conference in New York last week, I’ve been re-thinking “taking a bow” in terms of worship. I was graciously invited back to minister and teach and serve alongside awesome family and facilitators (a million thanks Rev. Eyesha Marable, Dr. Kathleen Turner, and entire GAC Team!), and I had a phenomenal time serving everyone from the teens to the seasoned saints, but something extraordinary happened to me as well.

Dancing With the Stars

The Lord met me in a beautiful place during the very first evening worship service where He invited me to simply worship Him, bow before Him, delight in Him. He took the cares of the world off these tiny shoulders, and we danced together in the beauty of His holiness. I was surrounded by international family, and at the same time having an intimate duet with my heavenly Dad. It was Dancing With the Real Star, the Brilliant One! And as I considered Who He really is in all His splendor and majesty, I kept wanting to just bow. All throughout that week, I was on floors, up under pews, and I wasn’t alone (see photo above). We’d get a glimpse of Who our King is and just bow or prostrate. That’s what worship is – to bow.

Called To Worship

And that’s been my posture since I returned back to the LaLa. The Lord called our Hope in the Hills fam into perpetual worship and resting in Him and spending time with Him as we lead up to our Dreams to Reality retreat next weekend. We invite you to join us wherever you are in the world in worshiping Him. At the start of each day, let’s take a second and just bow before God’s throne, acknowledge who He is, speak well of Him, surrender our own agendas and wills and trust Him with our lives and all the events of our day. Truthfully, we’re all worshipers and bow down to something: career, dreams, relationships, teams. We’re built to worship. But how great it is to actually place that worship where it is rightfully deserved, at the feet of the One Who created heaven and earth, the One Who created us.

So, Let’s Take That Bow
Literally. Our God is worth it.

SHORT 15 SECOND VIDEO OF ONE OF SERVICES:

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Celebration Time! And Our Golden Milestone!
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“Celebrate Good Times, Come on!”
Kool and the Gang sang it best!

This week, all across America – from the LaLa to the Big Apple to the Big D, from Chi-Town to H-Town to A-Town, from Motor City to Magic City to the City of Brotherly Love – we’re all celebrating our country’s birthday with one big 4th of July bash! Fireworks, BBQ, music, dancing! It’s on!

Last year, Kevin and I had a ball at the beach with family and friends (see photos above), which included one of the most competitive flag football games I’ve ever seen! There was lots of fun and rolling in the sand. Times like these are the best. And we’re back worshiping at the beach come this Sunday, July 6th. Should be a blast!

Congratulations! You’re GOLDEN!

This week, we reached our GOLDEN MILESTONE – The Big 50%! YAY! I also want to celebrate and personally congratulate all our blog friends and Hope in the Hills and extended global family that have been journeying with me through the Bible in a Year, reading or listening to 15 minutes daily using the Chronological Plan on Bible.com.

As we completed our 18th book today, Obadiah (the book with one chapter), we pause and give thanks for all that we’ve learned about our God and ourselves over the first 6 months of the year. It’s been a phenomenal journey thus far, and it’s great to be doing it together.

How are you celebrating this week?
What are your 4th of July plans?
Have you accomplished a set goal lately?

I’m celebrating with you!
Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Happy Summer!
© NaimaLett.com/blog, all rights reserved

Happy Summer, Fam!

Well, as of June 21st! This is my favorite time of the year.

Kevin and I send you a lovely 75 degrees and a breeze and lots of love from the LaLa!

PHOTO: Kevin & Naima: Sun-in-the-eyes Beach Selfie!

If you’re in the LaLa on va-cay or want to hang on Sunday, we’re almost 50% done with our journey through the Bible in a Year at Hope in the Hills. You are welcome to drop in. Good Word, food & fellowship.

What are you doing this summer?
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
This Summer in the LaLa
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What are your plans for the summer, Fam?

Snorkeling? Kayaking? BBQs? I love the summer, especially in the LaLa. There are free jazz concerts in the parks, lots of movie screenings, and perfect beach weather.

This Summer in the LaLa

Kevin and I had a wonderful anniversary trip up the coast during Memorial Day holiday, and now we’re settling into summer mode… which for me means knocking out the bulk of my doctoral dissertation.

My apologies in advance that you’ll only hear from me periodically over the next couple of months. This summer in the LaLa, my top priority is researching and writing so that I can finish my Doctor of Ministry degree in Preaching from BIOLA’s Talbot School of Theology, Graduation Goal: May 22, 2015. My dissertation explores Hollywood, Her Values, and How To Effectively Communicate With Her (working title).

Blockbuster Audiences

I was reading about Hollywood films this morning, and one author, John Truby, discloses that successful screenwriters employ specific blockbuster techniques to make their films “more attuned to the popular audience they must serve if they want to sell their material”. This simply means that writers making blockbuster films (over $100 million) KNOW and SERVE to their popular audience.

My research is to prove that we, as leaders in our family of faith, must KNOW and SERVE our audiences as well, if we plan to effectively communicate with them. For me and Kevin, that’s Hollywood. What about you? Do you KNOW your audience?

Confessions

Wondering why I’m working on another book before releasing my first one? The dissertation mentioned above will complete my doctoral degree, but Confessions will kick off my book and scripted series that will keep Lett’s Rise! busy for several years.

By the way, thanks so much, for all your inquiries and posts about Confessions of a Hollywood Christian. As you know, the book is done. You’re waiting on me to carve out the time to release it in the right way that accommodates traveling on a book/performance tour. Thanks for your patience. I promise it’ll all be worth it in the end.

What about you?

So, what are you working on? What are your summer plans?

Keep me lifted, and I’ll keep you lifted as well.
Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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NAIMA LETT – BLOG – HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Top 3 Things Marriage Has Taught Us
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The Top 3 Things Marriage Has Taught Us (From HU to I Do!)
It’s 2014, and we’ve made it to 13, Fam! 13 Years of Marriage!

I’m not superstitious nor prone to numerology. There’s no triskaidekaphobia here (fear of #13), so you’ll have an impossible time convincing me that we’re unlucky. Au contraire, my friend! We’re elated. We’ve had countless adventures crammed into a decade plus three, and as my husband Kevin said this year, “The Best is Yet to Come!” I believe that, especially since we’ve known each other since we were freshmen at Howard University. (That photo above is on our senior college cruise. We were so young! Yes, I liked red then too. LOL!) So, we could call this the TOP 3 THINGS WE’VE LEARNED ABOUT MARRIAGE FROM HU TO I DO!

Top 3 Things We’ve Learned

As we reflect, I asked myself and then Kevin: “WHAT ARE THE TOP 3 THINGS MARRIAGE HAS TAUGHT YOU?” Here’s what we wrote separately:

Kevin
1. Patience
2. Perseverance
3. Greater hope

Naima
1. Patience
2. How to Love more fully
3. Not to take Life for granted

#1
Did you catch that? I had to laugh. We both immediately concluded that the #1 thing we’ve learned in 13 years of marriage is patience. Yep. Good, old-fashioned P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E, which is defined as “the capacity to accept delay, difficulty or suffering without getting upset.”

Why?
Kevin explains, “Because at some point we have to relinquish the desire for control or power to dictate outcomes. We don’t think the same way or respond the same way to given situations although we do often arrive at the same conclusion in our own timing. It takes patience for two people trying to live, learn and love as one to allow that process to occur naturally and organically without pretense or vain attempts to change each other for our own selfish pursuits.”

Couldn’t have said it better myself! Marriage includes daily deciding to unselfishly function as a team with the same name on the back of our jerseys. Our Lord chose marriage as the imagery to describe His relationship with us, His church. Wow-wee has He had patience with us! And doesn’t it seem like we learn more and more patience as we wait on and grow in Him?

What about you?

Whether married or not, we’re all in relationships. What have your years in relationships taught you? What’s the TOP THING that you’ve learned?

Have an outstanding Memorial Day Holiday weekend. Lots of love from a soon-to-be undisclosed beach up the coast from the LaLa,
Naima

Rev. Naima Lett, D.MIN, ABD
The Hollywood Christian®
Author of coming release Confessions of a Hollywood Christian®

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