During the services, Jud tries to sell Christianity as a product instead of a deep personal relationship with God, our creator.

They play secular music at Central which in no way worships God. They are worshipping themselves for being able to play the songs (such as I Want To Hold Your Hand, Rocking Around the Christmas Tree, and Don’t Stop Believing – trying to reinact the TV show “Glee”). I truly believe that those songs do not belong in a church. They are just showing that Central is part of this world and not part of God’s Kingdom. It is very rarely that you hear Jesus’ name mentioned during the service.

Needless to say, I no longer associate myself with Central. After attending there, it’s hard to believe that there is a God who loves and cares for you.

1) “…using your reference of 1 Cor. 12:24-26 couldn’t it also be said that since there were just as many, if not more people seeing positive life change because of Deadly Vipers, that the ones who were upset should have rejoiced with them?”
I can see where you are coming from. And yes, I DO rejoice over the life change that is happening through the HEART of what DV is all about. I haven’t read the book yet, and I hope to do so someday soon. However, it is really hard for many in the AA community to get past the cover. Prof. Rah is much more eloquent about the many aspects of the book that are offensive: http://bit.ly/40mQuU
Is it right that just because the majority is positively influenced by this book, that the minority (who is *negatively* affected) should not speak up? It is a type of oppression and injustice that many of us in the Asian American community feel needs to be addressed.

2) “Was it really worth destroying a community of people who found serious healing through the People of the Second Chance movement? I may not fall in a ethnic background that finds itself highly discriminated against, but since when did hurt feelings trump changed lives?”
To these questions I have to ask: “Since when did changed lives (of the majority culture) trump the feelings/culture/identity of a few people (those in the minority culture)?”
I certainly hope that the DV authors would continue sharing their message, but without using the stuff that is unrelated to the HEART of their message. They can totally share this message of integrity and second chances without using references to “Kung Fu” and mocking the way our language sounds [e.g. a line from their book: "There is a killer called Zi Qi Qi Ren. No, this is not some communicable disease, but it certainly is deadly. This funky Chinese word literally means “self deception while deceiving others.].

3) “I guess I’m just coming from a place where I’m really exhausted of many things getting turned into a race conversation. When its intent was the furthest from racial.”
Well. I wish I could record all the movies, radio programs, TV shows, all the taunts of peers growing up, comments of professors, neighbors, etc. etc. that make everything Asian Americans do and say become a “race conversation.” Even the greeting, “Where are you from?” becomes a “race conversation” because when I say, “I’m from New York,” the response often is, “No, I mean where are you REALLY from?” [I was actually born and raised in NY, but if you asked where my parents are from, I'd say they are from Taiwan.] SO, I’m sorry you are “really exhausted.” But I pray that the Lord would grant you perseverance. I pray that you will not give up trying to understand the hurts, fears, and experiences of your ethnic minority brothers and sisters. I personally believe that the authors of the book mourn the fact that they have offended their Asian American brothers and sisters. And I pray that one day we can rejoice as we make steps towards reconciliation.

Thank you again for sharing! It’s past 1:30…I should get ready for bed now. G’night!

Was it really worth destroying a community of people who found serious healing through the People of the Second Chance movement? I may not fall in a ethnic background that finds itself highly discriminated against, but since when did hurt feelings trump changed lives?

I guess I’m just coming from a place where I’m really exhausted of many things getting turned into a race conversation. When its intent was the furthest from racial.

ps. good ‘seeing’ you the other day