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Robert Park, Brother Yun and Aijalon Mahli Gomes

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You got me, all I know is that I began to pray in a different way for Aijalon Gomes. Rather than look to the U.S. government or the evangelical churches of the world to act on his behalf, I began to pray that the Creator of the Universe would move on Aijalon’s behalf and deliver him in a way that shows the glory and power of the Father. That was a couple of days ago…

Now, here comes this almost bizarre post and video by Robert Park. [Read more…] about Robert Park, Brother Yun and Aijalon Mahli Gomes

Aijalon Mahli Gomes and Human Rights

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Human Rights Watch, an independent organization, has spoken out on the plight of Aijalon Mahli Gomes, American citizen and prisoner of North Korea. Following are some excerpts from that article.

The North Korean government’s announcement on the sentencing of Aijalon Mahli Gomes, a US citizen, raises serious concerns about whether his trial was fair, especially given the lack of transparency and extremely harsh punishment for a vaguely worded charge…

“Trials in North Korea are notoriously unfair, and Gomes’ appears to have been no different,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “This whole episode looks like another North Korean charade, with a vague criminal charge and a lack of due process leading to a long prison sentence.”

KCNA announced that Gomes admitted guilt on all charges, but did not provide any additional details to explain the “hostile acts” charge…

“Eight years of hard labor in North Korean prison is an extremely harsh punishment,” Robertson said. “North Korean prisons are notorious for torture, forced labor, chronically insufficient food, and a lack of medical treatment.”

I know of three other Americans held captive by North Korea in the past 12 months. Journalists Euna Lee and Laura Ling, sentenced to 12 years hard labor, were released after almost five months of isolation. Former U.S. President, Bill Clinton, had to intervene on their behalf. The photo above shows Euna and Laura arriving home. Euna’s young daughter and husband await her–now, that has got to be tough.
[Read more…] about Aijalon Mahli Gomes and Human Rights

$700,000 Fine or $700,000 Ransom?

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An article on the Voice of America’s news site today has this to say about the plight of Aijalon Mahli Gomes:

Han Myung-sop is a South Korean lawyer with expertise in the North’s legal system. He says the large fine is a break with precedent.

He says North Korean law does not provide for any monetary punishments whatsoever. Such a concept, he says, is inconsistent with the North’s socialist system. Therefore, says Han, the fine imposed on Gomes can only be viewed as a ransom.

Han says the United States is in a quandary now, especially as it tries to enforce international economic sanctions related to North Korea’s nuclear program. Also, Han says if Washington pays the fine, this kind of situation is likely to repeat itself in the future.

This brings up a troubling point–Aijalon Gomes may find himself in between the proverbial rock and hard spot… the USA unwilling to pay ransom and the North Koreans unwilling to lose face (not to mention money) by dropping the fine. [Read more…] about $700,000 Fine or $700,000 Ransom?

Sometimes, only Poetry can say it right…

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I’m seldom rendered speechless, but today I’m close to it. And it is not because of North Korea’s treatment of “foreign invaders.” That is not news. Aijalon Mahli Gomes and Robert Park must have been aware of the danger they faced by entering the country without permission. Mess with the bull and you get the horns.

Walking into North Korea, carrying nothing but a Bible and a smile, is an act that can’t be explained in normal terms. The deafening silence from Robert Park, concerning his own experience as a guest of North Korea, witnesses to that.

Right or wrong, sane or insane, true or false–the actions taken by these two young Christians defy logic.

This Day

Normal days are like this: Darkness is turned to light. The blind receive their sight. Wrongs are made right. Yes, normal days are like this, but few of us are amazed.

Here is what happens: We become accustomed to the miraculous and lose the magic. Life becomes just another day, another dollar, another trip south. Another, “Who cares?”

Here is what happens: Those who are most precious to us become our enemies. Those to whom we owe the most, we treat the worst. The television news show is more urgent than the voice of a child wanting to play. Answering e-mail is more important than saying, “I love you.”

We begin to disappear, long before death overtakes us. We become cogs in the machine, zombies rolling out of bed, consumers of plastic toys and throw-away containers. Our big concern is gas mileage. Our main ambition is money in the bank. Our over-riding emotion is fear… for we cannot face the reality of our non-existence. Happy hour is God on Sunday. This is what happens to the best of us.

Perhaps someone tries to warn us, but we scold them, we chastise them, they must be silenced, status quo is the way to go, it’s always been done like this. We shut them away quickly so that their disturbing ideas are silenced. No one visits them. The guards become infected and must be replaced. They get early retirement, or are given other positions of promise in return for their silence. Shhhhh. No one must know.

Nothing is sacred. We want sanitary preachers in clean suits and not too bold ties. We will gladly give them our money, if they continue to leave us alone. Let us wilt and die. Some of them become show-men. This is a helpful diversion. A room-full of imposters can hide the Truth and allow us to believe our chosen lie. We can pretend that all lunacy is equal. We need not listen with our hearts, our cold hearts. We are safe from wisdom here. We have money and highways and malls. We have universities and basketball and cheerleaders.

I write this to warn you. You are not safe. The Lion is loose. Your life is at stake.

You may be asked to be kind to a stranger—the one with unclean hands. You may be asked to visit the imprisoned, tend the sick, give your belongings to the poor, even deny yourself…and not just on Sundays only. Beware. The time is soon upon us. The hour is near. The Master cometh….Even at the door.

You see…normal days are like this: Darkness is turned to light. The blind receive their sight. Wrongs are made right. And hardly anyone is amazed.

Fasting for Aijalon Mahli Gomes and Robert Park

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You know how news stories move from one juicy item to the other, like kids in a candy store, each being overshadowed and replaced by the next? I’m reluctant to do that on this blog. Let’s face it, I’m not a news service anyway, and I’m not bound to talk about much other than turnaround theory. For me, there is a certain fascination here. Aijalon Mahli Gomes and Robert Park are two young men who were inspired to risk their lives for a cause. They didn’t just talk about doing something; they did it. Right or wrong, smart or not–their actions are not mine to judge–these two guys walked straight into the bowels of what may be the most austere and uncertain place on the planet: North Korea.

When Robert Park was released, there was an expectation that he would speak out about his ordeal. It is going on two months, though, since he was granted freedom, and the world has yet to hear his end of the story. A recent article in “Christianity Today” had this to say: [Read more…] about Fasting for Aijalon Mahli Gomes and Robert Park

Aijalon Mahli Gomes saga: Not by “mere mortals”

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VOA News, Seoul, has posted this video about the Aijalon Mahli Gomes saga. It’s pretty well a wrap up of all that we know thus far, but with some commentary from a Pax Koreana spokesman. He says that “Such things are not done by mere mortals…” This is certainly worth watching… and thinking… about.