NAIMA LETT | BLOG | HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
New Reality Show: “Preachers of L.A.”
© NaimaLett.com/blog

© Oxygen, Cast includes 5 mega-church pastors and 1 Gospel artist

Never a dull moment in the LaLa!

If you’re going to do a new reality show about 6 preachers (pictured above), it just makes good Hollywood sense to do it in Los Angeles, right?! Wealth! Drama! Scandal! It’s all here.

Or that’s what the Oxygen Network wants us to think based on its new trailer video (below):

OXYGEN: “In the glitzy and glam city of Los Angeles live six mega-pastors, celebrated by thousands for their spiritual sermons and high-profile lifestyles. In our new candid reality series Preachers of L.A., we follow each pastor for a glimpse of their everyday lives inside and outside of the church.”

Call for Boycott?

Before the show has aired 1 episode, the Christian Post is reporting about a call for Christians to boycott the series and sign a petition to ask Oxygen to cancel the show. I don’t know if they realize it, but boycotts of television shows rarely do anything more than cause folks to want to actually see what you’re asking them not to see.

What’s the Fuss?

ABC News reports that the show follows “the son of an evangelist who was shunned by his church after a divorce; a pastor whose church is “full of celebrities”; a bishop whose weekly broadcast reaches 250 million homes worldwide; a pastor whose greatest obstacle comes from “within his own family”; a bishop who was a gang member and drug addict before turning to God; and a pastor who was a pioneer of competitive skateboarding”.

So what’s the fuss? Naysayers don’t appreciate that the series seems to focus on the extravagant wealth of its 5 mega-church pastors and 1 former pastor/Grammy nominee, with “fast cars, lavish mansions and infidelity”. But doesn’t everyone already know their lifestyles? Is it worse because they’re pastors flaunting it now? But don’t they already do that?

It’s Messy

It’s messy. But aren’t all reality shows messy? (Note: reality shows aren’t really “real”. They’re produced.) Messy is what keeps viewers watching week after week. If everybody held hands and sang Kumbaya, audiences wouldn’t watch. But if you put Deitrick Haddon, Gospel superstar and former pastor who left his church, moved to LaLa Land, had a baby outside of marriage and started living with his baby-mama, now… folks might watch that. I’m not saying it’s right. I’m just stating the obvious.

Let’s adjust our expectations, Fam. From the trailer and press release, it appears that the show is not about spreading the Gospel. It’s not about Jesus being Lord. It’s not “For God so loved the world…” John 3:16 or to win souls for Christ. This is not about God’s Word and living out godly principles. It’s more like The Real Husbands of Malibu with men who happen to preach.

Bishop Noel Jones, the 63-year old brother of actress/model Grace Jones who grew City of Refuge in Gardena, CA from 1,000 to 17,000 members, confirms that the “original intention was not for this (show) to be an evangelical tool… The only reason I signed up was to help to reduce the iconoclastic proclivities that church members have about their pastors to the point where if they break any of the rules that the church members are breaking, they completely throw them away.” Jones, who’s also been in the news recently over baby-mama drama, is real clear that the show isn’t a evangelistic platform. Why don’t we just take his word for it?

Real Preachers of L.A.

As pastors in L.A., my husband and I can’t help but wonder how the rest of the world may perceive our Los Angeles ministries based on this series. Truth is most pastors do not live like these 5 mega-church pastors and singer. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research reports that 99% of all U.S. churches are NOT megachurches (2,000+ members). Average attendance is 75 – 200 members and most pastors are not wealthy. We drive normal cars and live in normal homes with normal families. But normal doesn’t make it on reality shows.

Do you want to watch us counsel folks on navigating life, relationships, depression, forgiveness? Do you want to see us visit the sick, support those in court or incarcerated, lay loved ones to rest? Do you want to watch us sometimes just sit with folks because that’s what they need? Do you want to watch us pay bills, walk dogs, fix meals, wash dishes, all the stuff that you do? Our sermons might interest you for an hour on Sunday, but what about the other 167 hours in the week? Do you want to watch us serve, pray for folks, disciple people?

Not really. That’s why Oxygen’s new show about preachers has found 6 extravagant ones to craft story-lines that justify the cost of filming. Goodbye, real! Hello, reality TV!

So, here we go.
Never a dull moment in 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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Happy 4th of July, Fam!

NAIMA LETT | BLOG | HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN © NaimaLett.com, all rights reserved

July 4, 2000.
Our 1st 4th of July together (above).
All-American, New York style.

Twin Towers dominated our skyline.
Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra blazed a free concert, Liberty Park.
And fireworks lit up the Statue of Liberty.
It was a fabulous date-day to remember two months before Kevin proposed.

It never occurred to us…
… that we’d categorize photos Pre-9/11 and Post-9/11, but that’s a reality for most of us who lived in or near The City when those Towers came tumbling down. Terrorism hit home, and it changed us. It changed America.

Thank You
Thanks a million to all our service men and women who have fought to keep our country’s independence for centuries. We are grateful to all our soldiers on the front-lines.

July 4, Today.
Let’s celebrate our freedom, Fam.
We’ve moved from Big Apple skylines to palm trees and a breeze, but we’re still all-American, just LaLa style. :=) And you are all-American, _______ style. And for all of us, let’s take a minute and thank God.

Let’s Remember!

Before becoming president, John Adams, wrote about the creation of the Declaration of Independence, that the day “will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

Let’s remember, Fam! And in the midst of our pomp and parades, fireworks, bonfires and barbecues, let’s remember this as a day of deliverance, and say thank you to God Almighty!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe…” Psalm 107:1-2

Happy 4th of July, Fam!
How will you celebrate?
Hope you have a wonderful holiday filled with love, food and fun.

Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

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

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NAIMA LETT | BLOG | HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Kanye, Baby North West & Yeezus
© NaimaLett.com/blog

© Kanye West and Kim Kardashian

What a busy month for Kanye West!

June 8 – Turns 36.
June 15 – Has daughter with reality star Kim Kardashian, 32.
June 17 – Drops 6th studio album & 7th #1 Billboard hit, selling 327,000 copies.
Seems pretty normal, right? Only in the world of Kanye.

What’s in a Name?

“What’s in a name?” Juliet famously asks Romeo, arguing the unimportance of their surnames. But, names (apparently) mean a WHOLE LOT in the world of Kanye. Folks can’t stop talking about the name of his baby, his album, and one of his songs.

THE BABY: North West

First, Kanye and girlfriend Kim Kardashian named their newborn daughter North West. Barbara Walters tried to tease, “If they have more children, they can be South West and East West…”

If nothing else, the name is unforgettable. Let’s remember Psalm 127:3 that “Children are a gift of the Lord; The fruit of the womb is a reward…” Baby North is a gift, a reward, a blessing. Let’s keep her lifted. She’s reportedly supposed to make her national debut on grandmother Kris Jenner’s (Kim’s mom/manager) new talk show, Kris, which starts airing July 15th.

On a side note, some found it interesting that Kim was induced for labor a month early a few days before Kanye’s new album dropped. We’ve probably just been in Hollywood too long to believe that anything is coincidental any more. Should we try to give ’em the benefit of doubt? Or would Kim’s original July 15th due date have been too close to the talk show debut?

THE ALBUM: Yeezus

More controversy: Kanye named his album Yeezus, a derivative of his nickname Yeezy and Jesus.

But, be clear, the songs are not an ode to Jesus. It’s like how Jay-Z calls himself Hova, as in Jay-Hova, as in Jehovah. That’s not out of respect or worship for YHWH (Yahweh). We’re still trying to figure out why the two of them thought it was a good idea to collaborate on a song called Lucifer a few years back. Seems like some confusion, right?

Rapper and Yeezus collaborator Cyhi the Prynce gives a different explanation for the title Yeezus in an interview posted on MTV. He says that Yeezus means “Ye is us”. Cyhi starts the video by saying, “All of us is Christians. We made ‘Jesus Walks’. I don’t get how people don’t see that. But we want these conversations. This is what we want kids and young adults talking about. What is this Yeezus? If you break it down, Ye is us…” (As in Kanye is us. Kanye is ‘the people’.)

In a recent W Magazine article, Kanye is quoted as saying, “I’m Christian in the same way that people have issues with certain elements of Christianity. It’s like if you go into a Ralph Lauren store, maybe that buyer didn’t do the exact buy that you want, but you still really like that brand.”
Ummmm…. OK?

THE SONG: I Am A God (featuring God)

If Yeezus doesn’t throw folks off, they certainly don’t know what to do with Kanye’s new song, “I Am A God (featuring God).” I listened to it and looked up the lyrics (warning: explicit). On the one hand, Kanye says “I know He (Jesus) the Most High”, but then he says, “But I am a close high.”

This would seem to back up Kanye’s friend and collaborator Malik Yusef’s twitter explanation that “I Am A GOD” is referencing Psalm 82: “I said, ‘You are ‘gods;’ you are all sons of the Most High.’

If that is true, however, clearly this is a misinterpretation of Psalm 82. When Asaph penned this Old Testament song, he cries out to God for justice for poor and oppressed. The ‘you are gods’ is followed by ‘you will die as mere mortals’ in judgment. Context does matter.

IF the lyrics are any indication of Kanye’s actual view of God (and that’s a very big IF, as we know he’s prone to controversial statements), then his theological lens is a bit off. When God says that He is I AM, (YHWH, Yahweh), it’s a declaration of His eternal self-existence. He calls Himself I AM in covenant with His people. When Kanye refers to himself as ‘I am’, he’s demanding massages and croissants and telling Jesus he’s primary goal is to stack millions.

Jesus says in Mark 10:43-45, “But whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant… For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Jesus comes to serve, not to be served. Who is Kanye serving? Jesus dies in order to reconcile Kanye (and all of us) back into relationship with God. Jesus humbles himself to the point of death. Who is Brother Kanye sacrificing for?

North West’s Daddy

At the end of the day, Fam, Kanye is North West’s Daddy now. And his beliefs will set the foundation for his entire household. He says he was brought up in the Christian faith by his mom and grand-mom. Let’s continue to lift him up, Kim and Baby North. Cool?

Have a fabulous weekend!
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
A Nation Divided: Gay Marriage
© NaimaLett.com/blog

© U.S. gay marriage laws, photo source

A Nation Divided: Gay Marriage

Yesterday, West Hollywood was Celebration Ground Zero. Party! Party! With the L.A. Pride Parade attracting over 400,000 LGBT enthusiasts in West Hollywood just a couple of weeks ago, the news of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to kick the case concerning gay marriage back to California set off a whole new round of jubilee.

But everybody’s not celebrating.

We Do Not All Agree

One thing’s for sure on California’s Proposition 8 and gay marriage: We do not all agree. Got it? We do not agree. So, let’s please stop with all the hate mail, hate posts, hate, hate, hate, on both sides. We do not agree. We are a state and nation divided.

Prop 8

Millions of California voters approved Proposition 8 in 2008 which states that marriage is only between one man and one woman. This came after the state supreme court ruled gay marriage to be legal. Voters said marriage is between man and woman. Courts said not so fast. Division.

2 gay couples sued, and a judge in the 9th District Court of Appeals ruled that Proposition 8 was unconstitutional. This ruling was appealed to the Supreme Court, which didn’t rule on the constitutionality of Prop 8; but instead ruled that the case was improperly before the high court. They kicked the case back to San Francisco, which had already ruled Prop 8 unconstitutional.

Not Going to Happen

I listened to the radio yesterday and there were heated arguments on both sides – with a lot of name-calling and not a lot of mutual discussion.

Here’s my 2 cents: A 9th District Court ruling in San Francisco is not going to convince millions of people that God’s Word should be thrown out the window. Not going to happen.

At the same time, holding up God’s Word as a standard is not going to convince millions of people that gay marriage should be thrown out the window. Not going to happen. Why are we screaming at each other as if that’s going to change our minds?

So, where do we go from here? Let’s start with the truth: We are not going to agree. But why should I have to agree with you in order to be in the same room with you? I don’t get it. I believe that Jesus is the Messiah. You may not. Does that mean we can’t have a decent, slur-free conversation?

I’m not trying to over-simplify this. I’m getting at a deeper relational issue. Folks start talking about homosexuality and lose their minds. But we have a nation divided on a whole lot of issues. Look at that map above. Does it not look like the division of Democrats vs. Republicans?

Agreement Is Not A Prerequisite

Agreement is not a prerequisite for being able to live together in the same nation. Agreement is not a prerequisite for being able to live together in the same house. My husband and I don’t agree on a lot of things, but we have daily made a choice to love each other and stay married for 12 years.

Stop. The. Madness. Fam.
I ain’t arguing with folks. There will be no hatred spewed on my blog. Pull it together! That’s all I’m saying on that. I’m about to be late for my lunch meeting. Gotta go!
Lots of love from the LaLa,
Naima

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

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NAIMA LETT | BLOG | HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Changes on the Way…
© NaimaLett.com/blog

© photo source

Changes are on the way, Fam.

I’ve had a blast blogging and interacting with you daily every weekday since February 2012. What started as a journey through Lent together grew into a mutual commitment, and I agreed to keep writing about Faith, Hollywood and our current events from a Biblical perspective.

What began as a few readers who signed on from our mailing list has grown to a viewership of thousands. We’re dialoguing on the blog and across social media. This is so cool. And I am so humbled. Thank you for hanging with me every day.

How Many Blogs?

When we asked you about frequency, many of you said that you use the blog as a daily devotion. Others said you read it 2-3 times a week. We are currently researching options and platforms that could allow those who want a daily delivery to receive it, and those who prefer 2-3 blogs to get those.

Either way, I will scale back to produce 2-3 new blogs each week, and those who prefer the daily blog, hopefully, will be able to receive from the archives. (We’re still researching that.)

Why the Change?

Things are moving fast here in the LaLa, and I’ve got to begin to adjust.

We’ve got the book launch coming up for Confessions of a Hollywood Christian, and we’re turning it into dramedy series, so I’ve got to write those. Book I is finished, but I’ve already started on Book II and there’s Book III.

Also, I MUST MUST MUST finish my doctoral dissertation so that I can graduate May 2014. I’m researching and writing about what Hollywood needs, believes and values and how we can effectively serve here. It’s a labor of love, but it ain’t writing itself. LOL!

We also plan to publicly launch H0PE IN THE HILLS in October for all the city to know that we’re here. So far, we’ve been pretty low key: a minimum web presence, word of mouth. That changes in a few months, and we’ve got to prepare. It’s also time for our outreach through developing the Hope Center to serve the physical and emotional needs of our under-served, impoverished artistic community and to equip young professionals to impact Hollywood. I’ve got programs, curriculum, grants to write.

So, see, I’ll still be writing daily. It’s just not all focused on the blog!

New Format

We’re working on a new format and re-design of the entire site – blog and all. We’ve had to make some major changes in hosting companies, etc. Everything will take a couple of months to roll out; but I think you’ll like it and even want to share it with others.

You mentioned you like the videos, so we’ll include more of those. We’re also categorizing the blog posts. For example, we’ll keep Adventures in LaLa Land, Film & TV Reviews, For the Fellas, and This Week in Hollywood, ones that you’ve seemed to respond to the most.

What Do You Think?

If there are any other “MUST HAVES” or “PLEASE DON’T CHANGE”, please speak now. This is when your voice matters the most. Respond on this blog and we will take your desires into consideration.

Thanks again for hanging. You continue to be the best!
So what do you think?
Change is good, yes?
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
Superman: Man of Steel, Man of God?
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© Man of Steel © Warner Brothers, DC Comics

“Did God make me this way?”

That’s what a young Clark Kent asks his earthly father in the new Superman reboot, Man of Steel, which grossed approximately $125.1 million in US box office sales over the weekend.

Very Faith-Friendly

I refuse to spoil the film for all who haven’t seen it yet; but let’s just say it’s VERY faith-friendly. So much so, that the L.A. Times reports that Warner Brothers specifically marketed the film to pastors and churches and created a Pastor Resource Site for pastors to “download clips and photos from the film, or print out entire sermons with topics such as “Jesus — The Original Superhero” and “Jesus — More Than Our Super Man.”

I personally find that last part hilarious, as I’d never download and preach an online sermon. But I guess, to each his own. LOL!

Superman/Messiah

It’s no secret.

Anybody who has followed the origin of Superman knows that the creators of the character intended Messiah-like similarities. Superman is sent, as an only son, by his heavenly father, as a god-man to grow up among the people he’d eventually save.

The two creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, were Jewish and said in interviews that they were influenced by several sources including the Old and New Testament. Some say Superman is a cross between Moses (aka Mosheh/Drawn Out/Saviour) and Jesus (Yeshua/Joshua/Saviour).

The story of Jerry Siegel, one of the creators, is told in a way that says he created the bulletproof Superman after his immigrant, store-owning father died in 1932 during a robbery attempt in Cleveland. Siegel and his partner developed a hero who essentially defied death and who would seek justice and keep the bad guys at bay.

Man of Steel’s screenwriter, David Goyer, agrees with the Christ-like connections and says he also thought of Moses. Nobody tried to hide the original storyline.

Hollywood Loves Redemption Stories

I’ve pointed out before that Hollywood loves making redemption stories where the hero is willing to risk his life to save another. Apparently, we love seeing them too. They mark the biggest selling box office films of all time:

Avatar, $2.782 billion
Titanic, $2.185 billion
The Avengers, $1.511 billion
Harry Potter, Part 2, $1.341 billion
Iron Man 3, $1.203 billion
Transformers: Dark of the Moon, $1,123 billion
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, $1,119 billion
Skyfall, $1,108.6 billion
The Dark Knight Rises, $1,084.4 billion

Each film has a hero who risks dying to save others. And all of them take a page from God’s great redemption story in which Jesus, the Son of God, “the One Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2.

Man of Steel

Superman is no different. In the comic books and in movies like Man of Steel, he throws himself right between death and innocent people again and again.

On a side note, this reboot is a bit more violent than previous ones. Before you take little Shemar or ReRe, watch the trailer and read the reviews to make sure you don’t give them nightmares. There’s a lot of fighting and stuff blowing up. Just saying. And let’s be clear, during His first advent, Jesus often took the humble, turn-the-other cheek route. He let His enemies crucify Him. Super ain’t doing that. He’s fighting all over Smallville and Metropolis. Tearing stuff up. Now, Jesus’ Second Coming on the other hand, might look a little bit more like this film.

No Teaser

And there’s no teaser at the end. We stay through the credits a lot. Sometimes, we’re rewarded with a teaser of what’s to come i.e. The Avengers series. Not this time. Just thought you should know, just in case you’ve got to go to the bathroom really badly after the 2.5 hour film. Not that it happened to me yesterday, but you understand.

Have you seen the film?
What do you think?
Naima

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

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P.S. Looks like I wasn’t the only one who woke up with this very similar title on my mind this morning. Man of Steel, man of God? Gotta love it when that happens.

NAIMA LETT | BLOG | HOLLYWOOD CHRISTIAN
Superman Soars Back
© NaimaLett.com/blog

© Warner Brothers, DC Comics

Superman soared back…
into theatres this weekend.
And looks like it made up for its last fiasco.

Audiences turned out to tune of approximately $125.1 million in U.S. box office tickets. It cost Warner Brothers about $225 million, but it looks like it’ll
recoup that and much more.

We’re going to see it today, thanks to my dad, who gifted us with Father’s Day tickets (though my hubby’s not a dad yet). Isn’t that cool? We’ll have to let
you know our thoughts after we experience this new reboot.

Man of Steel

Man of Steel boasts a new actor in the lead role, Emmy Award-winning British actor Henry Cavill, star of Showtime’s The Tudors.

Batman/Dark Knight’s writer/director, Christopher Nolan, is responsible for the story. 300’s director, Zack Snyder, is running the show. Russel Crowe, Amy Adams, Kevin Costner, Diane Lane, and Laurence Fishbourne round out the cast.

Zack, the director, is quoted as saying they wanted to humanize Superman and make him more relatable in this reboot.

Henry, the actor, says “I just wanted to bring Superman into the modern world. Hopefully I bring a version that everyone can relate to.”

Sounds like the masses liked this more relatable, humanized Superman.

What about you?
Have you seen it?
What do you think?

Naima

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

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
Does My ‘Do’ Look Celebrity To You?
© NaimaLett.com/blog, All rights reserved

© NaimaLett.com, All rights reserved

Oh Fam! Want a good laugh?!

Check out my “celebrity hairdo” above!

Now, before you call me Chaka Khan or Diana Ross or ask if I got Beyonce’s Mrs. Carter concert weave special, let me explain!

What Had Happened Was

Last Friday, I posted that I had been invited by my friends Stephen & Stephanie Adams, founders of the Long Beach Unity Festival, to be a celebrity judge/coach for their Star Search competition.

Well, last Friday, I had a Pocahontas braid down my back. Not exactly “celebrity”.
I text my hair stylist. Out of town.
I text my sister-friends. No responses or their stylists didn’t pick up.

Bright Idea

Then I remembered the huge side-of-the-building picture of the Beverly Hills celebrity stylist’s shop that we walk by every Sunday on the way to our worship space for HOPE IN THE HILLS.

The celebrity stylist would know how to do a celebrity “do” for the celebrity panel, right?!

The shop’s owner, the “ex” of a celebrity, has become a celebrity in their own right, with a reality show, product line and tons of celebrity clients.

Celebrity Hair Stylist, Please!

I call the salon. I don’t ask for the celebrity shop owner because I’m not eager to pay the celebrity price to sit in that celebrity chair. But I figure (business logic) that the celebrity owner would not risk messing up the celebrity shop’s brand by having other celebrity stylists working there who cannot deliver. So, I ask for first stylist available. I’m transferred to, let’s call her, Chandelier. I’m not trying to completely put her on blast. Just telling my little story.

Chandelier

Chandelier asks me to come immediately… oh, no wait. Make that a few hours from now. Make that 5 PM. I arrive at 5 PM and she asks me to come back at 6 PM. I grab a bite to eat and return at 6 PM. At 7 PM, I still look like Pocahontas.

Chandelier asks if I can come in the morning before the Star Search event. This is a really bad idea. But she ain’t going to be done with her current client anytime soon. Do I have a choice? We agree on 7:30 AM, because I have to leave the hills by 9 AM to arrive to the event on time for a 10 AM start. Guess what time Chandelier shows up? Go head, guess!

8:30 AM! And then tries to convince me she can wash, blow dry and press my natural, un-chemicalized hair into a celebrity style in 30-45 minutes. I disagree. I have to leave at 9. What style can you do from my Pocahontas braid?! LOL!

It Grew

It took Chandelier an hour. It should’ve been free, but I paid a little something for the wash. When I left the salon, the style was straight, I thought. But by the time I arrived at the event at 10:15, it had grown. LOL! The picture above is tamed down, much later. It was BIGGER!!!

When my husband saw me, he was like, “Whoa!”

I decided to rock the style like this all happened on purpose. What else can you do? I’m not opposed to big hair. I love my natural hair and it’s pretty big and curly. But I didn’t quite know what to do with the in between “do” that was supposed to be the celebrity “do”.

Next Time

Yal know I had to forgive Chandelier. Can’t hold grudges (Matthew 6:12). But I certainly don’t have to go back. If you’re in the LaLa and considering a celebrity hair salon in Beverly Hills, hit me up and I’ll give you the real name to avoid. Otherwise, we’ve all had a good laugh.

And for the record, next time, Fam, if I can’t get to my stylist, I’ll be the celebrity judge rocking the Pocahontas braid, and I just might wear my Pocahontas sandals to match.

Love sharing my adventures in LaLa Land! But what about you?
Have you ever had a surprising stylist or barber adventure?
What did you do?
Naima

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

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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
Down Time
© NaimaLett.com/blog

photo source

Hi Fam,

We officially have Down Time!

We’re moving servers. After several website and email problems with our previous hosting company, Network Solutions, over the last few months, we decided to research and find a better option. We apologize for any email bounce backs or issues logging onto NaimaLett.com. Apparently NS was hacked and the backlash meant 4-5 days of drama for customers.

We hope to be back up & running within 24-48 hours.
In the meantime, feel free to peruse some of the blogs you may have missed.
ENJOY!

Never a dull moment in the LaLa,
Naima

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

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Comment below, or
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DAILY DOSE OF HOPE – BLOG – NAIMA LETT
Why Are You Shooting Up Santa Monica?
© NaimaLett.com/blog

© photo source

I go to Santa Monica beach often to pray.

It’s 17 minutes from my house, no traffic. There’s something about watching the sunrise over the Pacific Ocean that reminds me that “God Is”. And if the Great “I AM” can keep oceans, tides and skies in balance on a daily basis, He can certainly handle whatever drama arises in my life. That’s just how I think.

Friday’s Shootings

So, Friday’s 13-minute shooting spree that ended at Santa Monica College, just 1.8 miles from the pier where I pray, was just unbelievable!

The 23-year old gunman, fitted in full bullet-proof tactical gear, with multiple semi-automatic firearms and 1300 rounds of ammunition, basically executed his father and brother, set the house on fire, then proceeded to shoot into cars, a bus, at pedestrians and finally on campus. He left 5 dead and many more wounded before policemen took him out in the library.

Why are you shooting in Santa Monica?

That’s what I wanted to scream! It’s Beach Town, U.S.A. Laid back. Easy. Peaceful. 80 degrees and a breeze. Folks go to work, then chill on the water.

What is so wrong that you feel the need to take several guns and shoot innocent people – a father and son, a mother of twins, a passerby. What is wrong with you?

Why are folks shooting anywhere?

Can we just stop this ridiculous violence? As I’m writing this post, more shootings have taken place in Santa Monica and all over Los Angeles, all over California, our U.S.A. and world. I am so frustrated right about now.

Raising Assassins?

I recently met a hopeful high school student at a Hollywood event. (I love helping folks find their purpose and follow their dreams while deepening their faith). I asked what she wanted to do in life and how I could help her get there.

“I want to be an assassin,” she confessed.

“Excuse me?” I stammered.

“I want to be an assassin. I’m excellent at the video games.”

She was serious. She had given much thought to this. How did we get here, Fam? Are we raising and/or allowing our kids to dream of being assassins and taking people’s lives because they’re skilled at killing people on video games?

“Life is so precious. When you’ve almost lost it, as we have, you realize how very precious it is and how we don’t really want to take anybody else’s. Do you know any military veterans? Can I introduce you to a few veterans who’ve actually been in situations where they’ve been faced with taking somebody else’s life? It’s horrific. It’s nothing like a video game.”

We were eventually able to re-direct the conversation towards stunt work and action movies; but what an eye-opening discussion.

Prayer

Lord, please forgive us for not valuing life. Please forgive us for not valuing one another’s lives. Please forgive us for sinning against You and one another and continuing to gun one another down in the streets. God help us. Before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He said “I am the resurrection and the life.” (John 11:25) Please help us embrace our Messiah and value life as much as He does and stop shooting innocent people in Santa Monica and all over our country and world.

In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Naima

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

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