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Only 2 Persons
Only 2 Persons
 
Deacon Kyung (Caleb) Yi, a brother in faith for over 30 years had built my current website. At first hand I didn’t want to be involved as much and politely declined.
 
But after hearing an advice about sharing my knowledge and of all the information that I had gathered I had started to upload in the website. It has been 14 years since the start – I can really feel the time flying.
 
Back around 2008 all of the important data files were deleted without a reason which was unexpected, but an elder who was expert at this kind of problems helped recover the lost date.
 
With having a website, not adding any new files would disappoint those who visit, I started to add good quotes from books, stories of morale, and any other things I had read and learned were also uploaded.
 
Amongst other things uploaded hymns and composed hymns with Elder Gil Sang Kwon and other composers who had collaborated with my hymns. Other items included first editions of previous bible studies I held, hymns that were sung and recorded as audio files. Finally, any pictures I had taken during my tenure as a pastor, family photos etc. were uploaded.
 
Currently as of now, the website hosts numerous files and uploaded documents.
                                                    
In the memorial photos of my family and family photos in general, I had noticed most people had visited my grandchildren’s pictures and downloaded them for whatever strange reasons. After a brief talk with my daughter, I had agreed to make that section invisible to viewers and made it impossible to download / access.
 
She said during the discussion that it is possible for people to download and use them without our permission, or that my grandchildren could become a target of a child predator. So I had decided to close that part off. Amongst others closed were of my family tree, my resume, last will and testament and my personal memorial photos.
 
Just as I was about to finish writing this sentence, I had received a call from Reverend Moon Su Park who was the conductor of the “2nd Praise and Thanks Night” back in 2001. I had originally called this essay ‘Only 2 Persons’ and opened it as because it was through two people that had given me information about any hymns that Elder Gil Sang Kwon.
 
Come to think of it, I should really change the title to ‘Only 3 persons’.
 
The reason why Reverend Kang called was, this year in Southern California’s Inland area’s church had a combined service and for special hymn they wanted to use my “Inspire Me”. He wanted to ask for my permission to download and use the PDF file that is available. The hymn “Inspire Me” which is available in my Youtube channel was recorded 16 years ago and was sung with the attendees. Despite the reverend having my book of hymns he had called to get my special permission and I bow my head in his request to use my hymn.
Whenever I visit my channel, I noticed many more churches had started to use Elder Kwon’s composed hymns.
 
This one time, I used Google to write my name and found another pastor’s website that had my writing in it. My hymn collections, recordings etc had many people download, but despite my request that people would write comments below, there is really a lack of written comments below.
 
However, there was a person who wanted to use one of my hymns and shot me an email. I was so glad and happy that I gave him the exclusive permission to use them.
 
The other person was currently residing in Daejun of the Chung-Cheong province in Korea, who heard my hymn through Far East Broadcast Company and was so thankful that he wanted to thank me personally. After searching far and wide, he had found me and sent me an email of thanks. I still communicate with that person to this day.
 
The reason why I recently wrote something like this, I have learned that you can take grace for granted and forgets about thanking again. There is an old saying, “Grace flows like river while grudge is set in stone.” – Likewise, God, neighbors, we ask ourselves, do we take grace for granted and forget about being thankful to others?
 
About 40 years ago while working in the Scripture Union of Korea as a staff member, I remember a letter arriving from international headquarters of Scripture Union and the director had read it. Afterwards, it was noted to all staff members that, while translating a book to Korean to sell, one should get exclusive permission from the author, the publisher is a must. At that time, small amounts of ‘pirated’ copies had been minimal so this kind of issue was almost non-existent. I really wonder and have a different attitude about borrowing another person’s work.
 
Just because of that I do not really want my website to be hosted as my personal property to be protected. Is there anything that belongs to me in this world that is mine? Even if I did write something, meditating God’s word, books I have read, wisdoms I have heard, and graces given etc. from spreading to others and borrowed somewhere so there is truly nothing that is mine.
 
The only thing I really want is to have a truly have a deep relationship with God.
 
If there is something I can share unconditionally, that is my true happiness and fulfillment. However, having this titled ‘Only 2 Persons’ was because I was so happy even getting one paragraph from someone. I myself try to respond quickly to any emails, phone calls as soon as they are left with encouragement and thanks. I will try my hardest not to forget and push it to another time.
 
About 16 years ago, an American pastor came to preach during a C&MA Korean District meeting. I do not remember anything of what he had preached, what Bible verse it was and what he had to teach us. But one very important thing was there.
 
An American saying, “Thanking now is better than saying thank you twice later.”
For someone to live more than what I need, to live with true meaning of thanks and the definition of serving is becoming less and less is becoming more real. In my office file cabinet, there is writing by Rev. Charles Spurgen. It is quoted, “Do it now.” I have printed that on a pretty paper and read it time from time.
 
“Do it now
            If you remember do it now.
            It is sunny today, but could be cloudy tomorrow.
            Yesterday is no longer yours so do it now.”
 
To conclude, it is better to share and grow if you do so with thanks and being care-some with someone else.
 
(April 9th 2017)
Number Title Reference
68 ​Never Had I Experienced…
67 ​“Meeting the Youth Born Again”
66 The Strange Orchid
65 The Grace of God
64 ​Kodi Lee (You have Changed the World!)
63 Memorial Day
62 Only 2 Persons
61 ‘70’s Young Nak Presbyterian Church Young Adult’s spiritual movement ‘70’s Young Nak Presbyterian Church Young Adult’s spiritual movement
60 Elder Ha-Sik Min’s eulogy
59 Elder KilSang Kwon
58 Reverend KyungJik Han’s Epitaph
57 Good Natured Person, Devout Person
Page: (1/6), Total: 68