Freedom for Aijalon; Kudos for Carter

August 25, 2010 By Don Leave a Comment

It appears that this may be the day that sees Aijalon Mahli Gomes released by North Korea. The Telegraph and others are reporting that former President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, is in Pyongyang and that the DPRK leadership has agreed to release Aijalon Mahli Gomes.

It may be that Mr. Carter, a man of peace, could play an instrumental role in helping to tone down North Korea’s war yelps at a time when tensions are running high. The plight of Aijalon Gomes has set the stage for more than the release of a trespasser. Here is a blip from the Telegraph article:

The Foreign Policy report said Mr Carter, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, would be travelling as a private citizen, similar to the mission carried out by former president Bill Clinton last year when he secured the release of Americans Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two television journalists who were also jailed after wandering across the North Korean border with China.

Mr Carter made an unprecedented visit to Pyongyang in 1994 when the United States came close to war with North Korea over its nuclear programme. He helped defuse the crisis through talks with then-leader Kim Il-sung.

Often maligned for failures during his term of presidency, Jimmy Carter has had a tough go in the press. Say what you will, though, it would be difficult to find anyone on the planet who has done more for the protection of human dignity than the former president. I salute him for going to bat for Aijalon. God bless Jimmy Carter, Aijalon Gomes, all the prisoners of compassion… and God bless you.

Welcome home, Aijalon Gomes. I hope you choose to speak out about your mission and your discoveries.

Update: It is official; Aijalon is free and is on his way home. Thank you, Lord. Thank you Jimmy Carter. Thank you Kim Yong-Nam. It is a time for rejoicing, for thankfulness, and for reflection on the preciousness of freedom. Aijalon, we prayed for you and held you dear in our hearts during your imprisonment. You were not alone. The Father moved in the spirit of many to not forget his son, Aijalon.

Filed Under: Incredible Compassion, Martyrs and Missionaries Tagged With: ,

Aijalon Gomes Still in the Hospital: Why?

August 17, 2010 By Don 1 Comment

An update on Aijalon Gomes: CNN World says that he has been visited at a Pyongyang hospital by “U.S. officials.” No details about Aijalon’s health were given (citing “privacy issues”), but the State Department says that there is concern for his health. Once again, a request was made to the DPRK that Aijalon be released on “humanitarian grounds.” That’s like asking a tiger to release its prey, based upon concern for the victim. The upshot is that Aijalon Gomes will continue to be held captive in North Korea until he has been of sufficient benefit to those in power.

Question: What can you and I learn from this saga? What does it have to do with Turnaround Theory, about living our dreams and fulfilling our individual missions? For me, the significance of Aijalon Gomes’ decision to enter North Korea is wrapped up in the Why of the situation–what was his motivation? Was it his deep concern for the people of that country? Was he trying to help Robert Park? Without knowing his “Why”, it is difficult to speak about results. If my goal is to reach Delaware, but I end up in Florida, then I have missed my mark. Yes, I ended up somewhere–but it wasn’t where I was headed. That isn’t necessarily bad, but it is substantially different.

Friedrich Nietzsche wrote that “He who has a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.” Is Aijalon’s Why sufficient to the circumstance? Is yours? Is mine? The RoadTurn takeaway for today is this: How strong is my Why? Will it sustain me through the certain struggles ahead? Will it keep me from despair and enable me to keep on going without giving up? If not–I’d better be searching inside for another Why. It is the fuel for the journey. It is my reason to be.

Filed Under: Martyrs and Missionaries, Reflections on Life Tagged With: , ,

Behind the Scenes for Aijalon Gomes

July 26, 2010 By Don 2 Comments

Buried amidst the allegations of money laundering, drug running, counterfeiting, arms sales and all around shady underground economic activities by the DPRK regime, is this little gem of hope for Aijalon Mahli Gomes…

“There are some moves afoot for a very high level private emissary to go from the United States to North Korea, for informal discussions on releasing an American who’s currently being held having strayed across the border earlier this year.

This from an ABC News story originating at Radio Australia.

And who would this private emmisary be? None other than former President George H.W. Bush is the vote of one Professor Hayes.

I’m not banking on it, but it is good to hear murmurs about negotiations for Aijalon. Let’s keep praying for him and the thousands of others who are brutally and unjustly imprisoned for their beliefs. Long live Freedom! Long live Brotherly (and Sisterly) Love!

Filed Under: Martyrs and Missionaries Tagged With: , , ,

Second Chances and Grand Adventures

July 23, 2010 By Don Leave a Comment

I love this photo. It shows the grand adventurer, Arthur Blessitt, standing a cross on top of the “throne of satan.”

Incredibly, Arthur, has carried the cross to every nation of the world. His story is absolutely remarkable and tremendously encouraging.

I bought the recently released movie chronicling his journey, The Cross The Arthur Blessitt Story, and have so far shared it with half a dozen other folks. It is exceptional.

Here are a few excerpts from the Arthur Blessitt blog, concerning the cross and the journey:

This is the first cross to be carried around the world on foot and the longest journey in the history of the world.

Length – 12 feet
Width – 6 feet
Thickness – 4″ x 4″
Weight – 45 pounds
Tire – 12″ inflatable
Average tire life – 2,000 miles

Miles carried the cross on foot – (Actual) 38,102 miles (61,319 k.m.)
Cross taken by boat – Estimated 20,000 miles
Air miles cross flown – Estimated 2,020,000

Number of different countries cross carried -315
Times arrested or in jail – 24
Most apt country to be arrested in – USA
Most apt city to be arrested in – Hollywood, CA

Most beautiful countries – Norway, Switzerland, Greenland, Antarctica
Most peaceful places – American Samoa and Manos Island (both in the Pacific), Maldives
Most modern city – Perth, Australia and Hiroshima, Japan

Worst traffic – Lagos, Nigeria; Istanbul, Turkey; India and Bangkok, Thailand
Most angry toward the cross – Amsterdam, Holland and Tetouan, Morocco

Greatest welcome to the cross – Papua New Guinea, Poland, Spain, India, Lithuania, Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu & West Africa
Friendliest Armies – Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Army

Longest time cross lost – one month (Alitalia Airlines)
Cross stolen – Christmas Day 1979, Assisi, Italy
Cross wheel stolen – Bordeaux, France
Cross overboard ship – Philippines
Cross broken – Joplin, Missouri; Nigeria; Guam, Turkey

Worst storm at sea – Philippines and Papua New Guinea and The Drake Passage to Antarctica
Best road pets – El Salvador del Mundo (parrot), Central America; Basco (rabbit), Spain; Belfast (dog), Northern Ireland; Loretta (parrot) South Africa – USA; HRH Windsor (dog) U.S.
Biggest animal scares – Green Mamba snake in Ghana; baboon attack in Kenya; elephant chase in Tanzania; crocodile attack in Zimbabwe

Worst jail – Concord, New Hampshire

A few memorable scares – Firing squad in Nicaragua: stoning and beating in Morocco; Civil Guardia attack in Spain; LAPD choking, Hollywood, California; pistol attack, Orlando, Florda; “to burn the cross,” Birdseye, Indiana; man broke the cross, Nigeria; War in Lebanon crossing minefield, Belfast, Northern Ireland bomb blast.

Worst bed – The “Pig Hilton” (a pigpen in Columbia); a single narrow board at a blown up bus stop in the Golan Heights, Syria-Israel border area.

Biggest crowd preached to – Half a million, Atlanta Rock Festival, 1970; Washington for Jesus Rally, half a million in 1980

Wars – Carried the cross in 52 countries at war

The cross has been turned away from being left overnight at more than half the churches requested, but has never been turned away from spending the night at a bar or nightclub in 40 years around the world.

Ya gotta love it. And that final sentence bears repeating: “The cross has been turned away from being left overnight at more than half the churches requested, but has never been turned away from spending the night at a bar or nightclub in 40 years around the world.” Go figure.

Another guy that has been a real inspiration to me is Os Hillman. I’ve quoted him before, here on RoadTurn, and I’ll do it again today. Os is something. If you’re not signed up for his daily email, I encourage you to check it out on his Marketplace Leaders website. There is no charge, and Os is not a spammer.

In today’s edition, Os quotes Jonah 4:2. Here is a bit of what he says:

…”I knew that You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” Jonah 4:2

God understands our disobedient heart. He sees what we really are; yet He gives second chances. God gave Jonah a second chance. He gave the people of Nineveh a second chance. It is a lesson of love from a heavenly Father who specializes in second chances. Have you blown it? Have you disappointed someone close to you? God is the God of second chances. All we have to do is acknowledge our waywardness. He will restore. He will give grace. Ask Him.

For my part, I am daily in need of grace. RoadTurn is all about the second chance and the less traveled road. Prayers today for Aijalon Gomes and the thousands of other Christians imprisoned by North Korea. Prayers today for all who are not free. Prayers today for us all.

Filed Under: Gotta Love It Tagged With: , ,

Park, Gomes, DPRK: So Bizarre

July 10, 2010 By Don 1 Comment

I‘m beginning to think that the DPRK is a lot like Disney World–a place where reality is suspended the moment you enter.

Or maybe it’s more like a UFO convention,–anyone who does enter has already embarked on an out-of-this-world exploration.

The truth is that I’m a lot like you: I don’t know what to think for sure. The rhetoric, allegations and activities just seem to get more bizarre as we go. From the recent claim that DPRK scientists have developed nuclear fusion, to threats of turning Seoul into a “sea of fire”, to the idea that Aijalon Mahli Gomes has attempted suicide, the hits just keep coming. If the subject matter was not so grim, one would think that the Central News Agency is like a global Saturday Night Live. Incredible stuff.

Here’s the announcement concerning Aijalon:

American Prisoner Attempts Suicide
Pyongyang, July 9 (KCNA) — American Gomes serving a prison term in the DPRK recently attempted to take his own life, according to information available from a relevant organ.

Driven by his strong guilty conscience, disappointment and despair at the U.S. government that has not taken any measure for his freedom, he attempted to commit suicide. He is now given first-aid treatment at a hospital.

The Swedish embassy here representing the U.S. interests acquainted itself with the condition of the patient at the hospital.


Pyongyang isn’t the only party to this unusual dance, though. Robert Park and Aijalon Gomes are stories in themselves. Both have been driven by intense emotional concerns to do something that most folks would never consider–walking straight into the arms of terror, torture and a timeless visit to the depths of inanity. Did Robert Park believe that the North Korean gulag would extend an open-armed welcome to his demands that the people be set free? Did he imagine that the leadership would suddenly repent of their crimes against humanity and sing the Hallelujah Chorus with him?

And what about Aijalon Gomes? What was he thinking in the first place? Was he going in to rescue Robert Park? Was he planning to offer himself as a sacrifice to the great cause? Or, as the Liberate Laura writer has suggested, was he just running from his own demons and just ended up a bit too far north? The heck of it is that we really can’t expect to learn more about the truth of the events in any foreseeable future. For some reason, those who enter the North Korean indoctrination camps come out with lips sealed. Maybe the brain scans and memory readjustments that the UFO crowd says take place when one gets beamed up to a waiting space craft really occur in North Korea.

After all, the people’s newspaper says that the DPRK is way ahead of the rest of the world in matters pertaining to science and sociology. And everybody knows that the news doesn’t lie….

For my end, I’m writing this from a campground in Colorado. I’m sitting by a beautiful little creek, watching the wildlife (including my children) play and breathing some good mountain air. I wish the entire population of this planet was so blessed. I wish that not a person, anywhere, was imprisoned, hungry, homeless or hopeless. I wish that the Creator and Father of us all would come right now to establish His kingdom of everlasting Peace and Love.

But I’m not running the show, so I will wait and watch and listen and think: What if the whole world would stop… listen… right now? What if the whole world would stop… and pray?

My prayers for Aijalon Mahli Gomes, Robert Park and all those in captivity, everywhere. My prayers for you and yours.

The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever,
For ever and ever, forever and ever…

(From the Hallelujah Chorus)

Filed Under: Reflections on Life Tagged With: , , , ,

Heaven Fest Tickets: Five Free

July 6, 2010 By Don Leave a Comment

It’s scheduled for July 31st, and the line-up reads like a Who’s Who of Christian music: Kutlass, Casting Crowns, Petra, The Kry, Mary Mary and many more. It promises to be powerful, a ton of fun and a witness to the world. I’m talking about Heaven Fest 2010, over 70 Christian bands, 7 stages on over 300 acres at Union Reservoir, Longmont, Colorado (not too far north of Denver.)

RoadTurn has five tickets to the festival, and we’re giving them away to a RoadTurn reader or readers like this:

Starting now and running to noon on Wednesday, July 14, just leave a reply to this post or e-Mail me and let me know how many of the five tickets that you want. I’ll take all the names, put them in a hat and let one of the kids choose the winner(s). It’s that simple. I’m going to be on the road for a week, so I won’t be able to answer any questions after tomorrow. I’m not taking a computer, so your response to this post will not show up online, but I will still be able to see it when I return… okay? Easy as pie, just let me know that you can use the tickets and how many tickets you want–up to five. I will notify the winners on the afternoon of the 14th.

By the way, We don’t spam and we won’t sell your information. I will need your email address for this, but it won’t go anywhere else. That’s a promise.

Filed Under: Gotta Love It Tagged With: , ,

Rabbi Kaduri, Ariel Sharon and Jesus (Yeshua)

July 5, 2010 By Don 1 Comment

In the “very interesting” category comes this video concerning the famous Jewish Rabbi, Yitzchak Kaduri. I’m way out of my league here, concerning the intricacies of Jewish mysticism, but it is told that the Lubavitcher Rebbe foretold that Rabbi Katuri would witness the coming of the Messiah. That got my attention, because quotes from the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson) comprise one of my favorite books, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth: 365 Meditations of the Rebbe (good luck finding it.)

Anyway, Rabbi Kaduri’s thoughts were centered on the coming of the Messiah, during his final years on Earth. He passed on in January of 2006. Before leaving us, though, he apparently left us two hints about the Messiah (Mashiach.) First, that He would appear after the death of Ariel Sharon. Next, that the Messiah’s name is Yehoshua, Yeshua, Yahusha… you got it, the one that most English speaking moderns call Jesus. Now, if that idea doesn’t rattle the cage of Orthodox Judaism, I don’t know what does. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Very Interesting Tagged With: , , , , , ,

20 Bibles, 10 sets of Hymns and Tortured to Death…

July 4, 2010 By Don Leave a Comment

Those of us who were born in the USA and have always enjoyed the freedoms that our birthright provides are prone to take our freedom for granted. I know that I often do. Then, I hear a story about someone like Brother Yun or Aijalon Mahli Gomes, and I am reminded that freedom is both rare and costly. Freedom is not free.

Now comes another name to remember–that of Son Jong Nam, who escaped the North Korean police state by crossing over to China in 1998. In the military, he had served a ten year stint as a presidential security guard, and his loyalty to the state was intense. Something happened, though, that changed his mind. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Martyrs and Missionaries, Reflections on Life Tagged With: , , ,

Independence Day, Anna Chapman and Russian Spies

July 1, 2010 By Don Leave a Comment

So what do the alleged Russian spy, Anya Kushchenko (aka Anna Chapman), and Independence Day in the USA have in common? Plenty.

Here’s one: Anya (Anna) was publicly arrested, and the news of her plight has by now traveled around the globe. Not only that, but she has and will receive a speedy and fair hearing in court. Try getting arrested for being an American spy in Russia and see how it goes for you. Chances are that, not only will your case never be heard, but you will never be heard… from again.

Here’s another: I doubt that a soul on Earth is concerned that Anya is being tortured, raped, mutilated, beaten to smithereens or in any way mistreated during her stay in a Brooklyn jail cell. No, chances are that she is being fed regular, nutritious meals and treated courteously in every way. The preferred method of treating spies caught in Iran is a public execution, rather than a public trial.

One more: During her stay in the United States, Anya was allowed to travel freely, to conduct business and to speak with anyone she wished. In short, she was given dignity and respect. I’ll wager that [Read more...]

Filed Under: Reflections on Life Tagged With: , , , ,

Anna Chapman: A bad, bad girl….

June 30, 2010 By Don 3 Comments

In the “ya gotta love it” category, arrives one Anna Chapman… accused by the USA of spying for Russia. Okay, for failing to register as a spy, more exactly. Oh, the intricacies of international espionage.

The photo shown is from Anna’s own page (more photos and a link follow in this post), where it appears that one of her last woman of the world adventures, before being nabbed (at the precinct station) by the NYPD, was to attend the book launching for Delivering Happiness: A Path to Profits, Passion, and Purpose, or–as Anna calls it–”Livestrong and Prosper.” Which fits right in with her favorite thought: “If you can imagine it, you can achieve it; if you can dream it, you can become it.” It appears that Anna has a vivid imagination…

Funny thing, I just happened to be thinking about the world of espionage when the Anna Chapman story broke. Why? I had come across an All Voices article, entitled “Is Aijalon Gomes a real life Michael Westin?” (who apparently plays a spy on television.) Now, I just cannot bring myself to envision Aijalon Mahli Gomes–an American man of color–being sent to the DPRK in order to operate undercover as a government agent. What is he going to report on, the opinions of his prison guards?

Anna Chapman, though, now that is a different story. If this girl ain’t a spy, she ought to be. I have no trouble at all surmising the damage she could do by rubbing (shoulders) with some good ol’ boys at a congressional cocktail party. Okay, enough talk, here’s another photograph of Anna (looking mighty suspicious), and a link with additional evidence. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gotta Love It Tagged With: , , ,
« Older Posts