A current primary topic for me concerns motivation–how do I get myself to do that which I desire? This morning, I was proceeding along that trail and had arrived at a point where I was considering the importance of the strength of the desire. I recalled the maxim, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” That which we want badly enough will come to pass. I might want to get out of bed earlier each day, but have a hard time doing it. Set the house on fire, however, and you can get me on my feet at any hour.

It was then that I saw a news flash about an American, Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who is being tried in North Korea for illegal entry. “Who is he,” I wondered, “and what in the world is he doing trying to infiltrate North Korea?” I can’t answer that for certain, but a little bit of research gave me a few big clues. “Aijalon” comes from the Biblical book of Joshua. It is the place where Joshua defeated five kings–and where the Creator even stopped the progress of the sun and moon to help him. “Mahli” is a Biblical name, as well–a son of the house of Levi.

The next clue was the clincher. It is from a post left on a Korean website last August. It is a question about hair removal by someone who signs the post like this: “Love and God Bless, Aijalon G.” I don’t know about where you are from, but my experience is that “God Bless” is a buzz phrase for Christianity. Putting those, albeit slim threads, of information together, it would seem that the young American now imprisoned in North Korea went there on a Christian mission in support of the Gospel. This is pure speculation, of course. I could be way wrong.

A primary source of informationwas the ROK Drop site. The conclusion there is that Aijaon Mahli is another Robert Park–and that he is likely to “get the same treatment.” Now, that is disturbing. Robert Park (see photo) walked across a frozen river from China into North Korea on Christmas Day, 2009. Witnesses say that he was shouting, “I am an American citizen. I am bringing God’s love. God loves you.” Robert Park was carrying a letter to the North Korean Supreme Leader, Kim Jung-il, calling for human rights in the country. Here is a blip from a Reuters interview with Robert Park the week before he crossed over: [Read more...]