Why Did a Secretive Filipino Church Buy a South Dakota Ghost Town?
- Posted on October 10, 2011 at 7:49am by
Billy Hallowell
- Print »
- Email »
In this Oct. 6, 2011 photo, the Longhorn Store sits in Scenic, S.D. While never a booming metropolis, it once boasted a saloon, three gas stations, a dance hall and a school. (AP Photo/Amber Hunt)
SCENIC, S.D. (The Blaze/AP) — The saloon is long empty. The roadside jail cells, rusted and worn. Even the swing sets peek from behind knee-high brush after decades of neglect.
This tiny exclave just west of South Dakota’s badlands is officially an old ghost town. But its future is shrouded in new mystery.
“We don‘t know what’s coming,” said Kathy Jobgen, 50, the only employee remaining at the only business still in town: the U.S. Post Office.
The town of Scenic – once a popular stop for people traveling to Rapid City from the badlands to the east or Pine Ridge Reservation to the south – was recently purchased by an unusual buyer for less than $800,000. The Iglesia ni Cristo church, established in the Philippines in 1914, bought the town and surrounding acreage from longtime resident and area rodeo legend Twila Merrill, who had gathered the land bit by bit over several decades. Below, see some video of the tiny town:
The church isn’t divulging its plans for the property. A person answering the phone at its offices in Daly City, Calif., said he couldn’t share any information, as did staffers of church spokesman Bienvenido Santos.
“They’ve got a non-disclosure agreement, and I’m a signatory to that,” said David Olsen, the real-estate agent who represented Merrill’s family in the sale.
He was only comfortable offering bits of detail – the saloon and other boarded-up buildings still standing along Main Street will stay, he said – but he said he couldn’t give specifics.
“The gas station will be open for business again soon enough,” said Olsen, of Coldwell Banker in Rapid City. The church purchasers are “interested in it being a benefit to the community.”
The church, which translates in the language Tagalog to Church of Christ, has been steadily spreading west since it was founded in the Philippines by Felix Manalo, a former minister of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church who experienced what he claimed to be a call similar to those of ancient prophets. He died in 1963.
Often described as one of the fastest-spreading international religions, its foothold in the Philippines grew from about 1.4 million followers in 1990 to 1.7 million in 2000, according to the 2011 figures released by the National Statistics Office in Manila.
Iglesia ni Cristo rejects the Christian doctrine of trinity and believes Christ is one of several prophets. The church is focused on the end times, believes Manalo is a prophet and considers the Catholic Church apostate.
It has a divisive reputation. The church’s backing has been viewed as crucial in Filipino presidential elections, and it has been accused of organizing bloc voting in that country. It also is known for its secrecy, rarely commenting on its activities.
So far, there has been no church activity in Scenic to hint at what’s to come – no construction permits sought or development plans presented to the county. The lack of information surrounding the sale has some neighbors uneasy and rumors are circulating among the scattering of residents. The Daily has more:
“They bought it sight unseen,” said Shirley Kudrna, whose father-in-law was born on a ranch about seven miles east of Scenic in 1916.
“Some people say maybe they’re a cult,” said her father-in-law, Tony Kudrna, 95, who has lived on the ranch nearly his whole life.
The church has expanded to more than 5,000 congregations in the Philippines, and more than 600 abroad in more than 60 countries and territories, according to the Manila Times. It has held neighborhood events to praise the hospitality of the communities where it has purchased land to build homes and churches, including Los Angeles, Orlando, and Union County, N.J.
Other congregations are established nationwide in more than 40 states, according to the church’s website. Dozens are listed in California, 10 in Washington, 12 in Texas and seven in New York.
Jobgen said she’s hopeful the church will make for a good neighbor.
“I’m excited about the possibilities,” said Jobgen, who also runs the Jobgen Ranch with her husband.
The intersection of flourishing religion and foundering town is perplexing: In 1915, the state Highway 44 pit stop of Scenic enjoyed its largest population of 155 residents, according to records kept by the South Dakota State Historical Society.
At its peak, the town that’s pure Old West had two restaurants, three gas stations, two bulk filling stations, a hotel, a school, a bank and a post office. Tony Kudrna’s sister worked at one of the restaurants, he recalled. To travel from his homestead to the comparatively bustling town, he went by horse-drawn wagon.
The remnants still dot the 12 acres that qualify as deserted town. The buildings that remain are padlocked closed and have plywood over their windows and doors, but the flavor of the time is still very much present: The sign above the Longhorn Saloon is lined with aged cattle skulls and emblazoned with the structure’s year of construction – 1906.
The wooden general store is adorned with rusted wagon wheels and a carved sign that reads: “ASHES TO ASHES – DUST TO DUST- IF WE DON’T HAVE IT – IT ISN’T A MUST.”
Merrill, a rancher and rodeo regular, began buying Scenic property in 1963. Olsen said her health began to fail about two years ago, and as cancer took hold, Merrill was forced to put the land – 46 acres in total – on the market.
It languished for two years with a $3 million price tag. In July, Olsen stepped in and dropped the cost to $799,000.
Suddenly, prospective buyers stepped forward from all over the world, said Olsen, estimating that he took more than 500 phone calls and 200 emails about the property. He appeared on television programs in Australia, London, Montreal, Chicago and Atlanta, he said.
The offer from the Filipino church was one of several.
“It was Twila’s decision as to who she chose,” Olsen said. “She seems to be real happy with it.”
What happens next is not known publicly. Olsen said the property will be cleaned of dilapidated buildings and overgrown brush, but he said the buildings at the town’s heart will remain. Not even Merrill and her family know more than that, he said.
“They do not know the plans,” he said. “They’re as eager as everybody else.”
Popular Stories
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 591 Comments
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 417 Comments
‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 386 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 376 Comments
Faith
Arab-Muslim Character to Join DC Comics‘ ’Green Lantern’ Series Read More- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 417 Comments
Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 415 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
Business
- President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 386 Comments
- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 151 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know 100 Comments- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 303 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 417 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (162)
ChiefGeorge
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 11:13amI don’t have a problem with it. Tribes an churches have gathered their own for thousands of years. Just like Israel.
Report Post »beverlee
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 12:28pmIf it is an incorporated town in the USA I hope they know they cannot be exclusionary. If a Jewish person wants to rent, if a catholic wants to buy, if a Muslim wants to reside…they cannot say no.
On an off-topic…I typed this on my iPad…it automatically capitalized Jewish and Muslim…but not catholic…anyone know why?
Report Post »Proclaimer1
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 1:04pmBeverlee, Catholic and catholic are both correct, but the case of lhe letter determines the usage of the word. Catholic with a capitol “C” usually refers to the Roman Catholic Church, while catholic with a lower case “c” usually stands for the Christian Church as a whole (all belivers in Jesus Christ), not with any respect towards any specific denomination. So basically a computers spell check / auto correct can not differentiate between these 2 words any more than the words too, to, and two. It is written correctly as far as it can tell.
Report Post »MR_ANDERSON
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 1:32pm“We don‘t know what’s coming,” said Kathy Jobgen, 50, the only employee remaining at the only business still in town: the U.S. Post Office.
This is why the US Postal Service is in so much debt.
Report Post »rainier4311
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:08pmBeverlee,
The reason catholic does not capitalize is because it has two meanings, but are close to the same. catholic refers to the Church, and catholic refers to unity of the faith. If you talk to a Lutheran minister, inside the Catechism, catholic is referenced. I am Lutheran (LCMS), and it is in the Catechism. Good question! Happy to answer it.
Report Post »jhrusky
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 5:25pm@mr_anderson
My thoughts exactly … as I read this article, I couldn’t help but wonder why is a US Post office still running in a ghost town? This is yet more proof that government is outright stupid when it comes to finances and operating business.
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 12:16amSlight correction, “catholic” lower case does not have a specifically religious meaning, its plainest meaning is nothing more than “universal.”
Report Post »slimster
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 12:19amHey jhrusky! you never know when you might be stuck in a ghost town and being able to deliver a letter through the post will be a life or death situation. except I hope it is not a holiday, or raining too hard……
Report Post »trouthunter
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 5:44amInteresting story. However I’m commenting on the Postal issue. I am a USPS employee faced with having my mail processing plant shut down. I live in a community of approximately 75,000. Our facility processes mail for about 120 offices in a mostly rural part of a state in the Northwest. It is very frustrating to me to read all the negative comments towards the USPS. Just like the drips on Wall Street, whose angst is misguided, so are such comments regarding the USPS. We were doing quite well, sustaining ourselves and running business in the black until 4 congressmen got together and sponsored the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act in 2006. I beg you to go look at it, look at the PROGRESSIVE/Socialist individuals that sponsored it, and then read the premise of the bill. It essentially takes all of our profits and requires we prefund 75 yrs in advance retirement and health care funds over the next 10 yrs. It also completely hampers the USPS’ ability to be competitive with businesses like UPS & FedEx. The USPS is capable of being self-sustaining, but it is as if the minute Congress saw that we were successful, they swooped in and confiscated all of our profits. I would give anything to see what has happened to the billions and billions of dollars…is it somewhere that congress has access to borrow against it…I’m guessing so. The USPS has not operated on tax dollars since I believe the very early 1980′s. We aren’t the same as the other govt organizatio
Report Post »trouthunter
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 5:51amSorry, I have too much to explain. In our neck of the woods, we service 120 offices (23 of which will be closed). All of the mail we currently process and provide overnight delivery between each of our 120 offices will slow to 3-4 day delivery. To mail a letter across town, it will take 3-4 days because all of the mail will now have to travel an additional 200 miles to be processed by a larger facility. If this happens, they might as well shut the USPS down completely. What company goes backwards in its service to the customer??? I wish the govt oversight committee would get their fingers out of our business and let us run the USPS like a business. Where we were, it was successfull! But gosh no, we can’t have that. Ok, I’m done. Thanks for listening to me. I would also appreciate it greatly if you would consider researching the current bills in the House and encourage the one that you think you support. Issa’s bill is HR2309, and as a conservative, it sounds good on the surface, but again, please study it. The one I would love support for is HR1351. It has over 200 co-sponsors including a few R’s. 1351 essentially gives a generous portion of the USPS overpayment of the prefunded retirement account back so we can continue conducting business without relying on govt bailouts etc. Thanks for your time Blaze readers. I appreciate you listening to my rant.
Report Post »BigSky
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 7:54am@BEVERLEE: It won’t be an incorporated town, it will be more or less a religious cult compound.
Report Post »AmazonWarrior
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 10:19amSpell-checkers won’t automatically capitalize the word “catholic” because it can also be used in a generic sense to mean “1. broad or wide-ranging in tastes, interests, or the like; having sympathies with all; broad-minded; liberal. 2. universal in extent; involving all; of interest to all. 3. pertaining to the whole Christian body or church.” (Dictionary.com) in addition to being a specific reference to the Catholic Church.
Report Post »Watchingtheweasels
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 9:40pmWell, at least it’s not a mosque.
Report Post »Iman Azol
Posted on October 13, 2011 at 2:52amBeverlee: Catholic can be a verb, and would not be capitalized.
Report Post »BaneSidhe
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 11:08amReally the only thing that bothered me was this “We don‘t know what’s coming,” said Kathy Jobgen, 50, the only employee remaining at the only business still in town: the U.S. Post Office.”
Report Post »So a town with just about no one in it probably has a brand spanking new post office in it?…..
Proclaimer1
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 1:07pmAnd that post office most likely services most if not all of that county.
Report Post »trouthunter
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 5:55amThanks Proclaimer1. You are right.
Report Post »BigSky
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 7:51am@Proclaimer1: Don’t think that post office is open anymore since so many rural postal stations have been shut down by the USPS over cutbacks. If anything, the mail is coming from a neighboring town such as Wall, SD.
Report Post »PApeacemaker
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 11:06amHmmm kind of reminds me of Jonestown in Guyana when that nut job had all those innocent people killed at the little airport including a US congressman & then he made his congregation drink the Kool-Aid laced with poison. Nope dont like this nothin good can come out of it.
mmabri
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 6:09pmKool aid drinkers? Maybe you should try attending an INC worship service or bible study before making those kinds of statements.
Report Post »beerios
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 1:19amThat’s exactly what I was thinking as I read it!! No permits – no nuthin. Just some filipino followers of a Seventh Day Adventist (brain automatically defaults to Koresh).
Being someone who likes old west history, it would be a shame to lose some of that history.
Anyone else thinking Heaven’s Gate?
Report Post »Bevrages
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 4:21amI had a similar vibe. But who knows, the might make it into a theme park.
Report Post »RalphJerraldOcampo
Posted on November 6, 2011 at 2:59amthis is for @papeacemaker this is just an advice that before you make a statement you must first watch your words! you must know if you could hurt the feelings of the INC members I am an INC member! and criticizing others wont make you a better person don’t you know that you can be imprisoned for stating such statements. I also want to tell you that Church of Christ or INC surely has a good purpose for buying the land. Surly God will not be happy of you if you would continue criticizing and BTW your username has a peacemaker but your‘e the one who starts the fight stop this you don’t know how much you can actually affect our feelings when your’e stating those statements. That’s all and I hope you will learn to RESPECT our religion now not just us but others to.
Report Post »Bonnieblue2A
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:50amI have to chuckle at so many of the silly remarks. How many of those posting have ever even been to South Dakota outside the I-90 corridor?
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:58am@BONNIE….I have what’s your point?
Report Post »the hawk
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 11:47amWELL They dont believe in the trinity Thats a plus!
Report Post »And their a offshoot of Seventh-Day Adventist Church ( like the branch deviedians RIP)
If they dont behave call Holder’s untouchables AKA…..tHE ATF ..TELL THEM THEY SOLD YOU SOME GUNS AND MAYBE THEY’LL BRING SOME TANKS AND THE NAT GARD…………
sportlock
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 12:10pm@Bonnie,
Which brings up the point…..
How many Fox news bashers actually watch Fox news?
How many Tea Party bashers have been to a Tea party event?
Better yet, how many Democrats bashed GOP opposition to the new healthcare law without even reading the bill?
Gotta love how Dems set the bar sooo high….for everybody else
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 2:41pmI have Google earth so take that.
Report Post »Lovethewest
Posted on July 30, 2012 at 12:46pmHey, Bonnieblue2a: I live in New York State about 25 miles north of the New York City. I might be the only New Yorker who has visited South Dakota five times. I spent some time in Scenic on two of the trips, drove to the top of Sheep Table Mountain and did some hiking. It was an experience I will never forget. I hope the town’s history is preserved in some way so that I can bring my kids there to see.
Report Post »compatriotshonor
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:46amThe rats in the mix?
Here we have another religious sect, alike any other, moving into another area of the world, buying up land, in a last resort means, a way to re-establish itself, in the event of castrophy, in one form or another.
It might also mean here, if buyers from another country can come in here to buy up american lands, whats going to stop other from doing so and in the long run, america will be bought from entities from abroad and nothing will be left for real americans.
There is an obvious long term conspiracy going on here and it is happening in the most remote places around the country.
Are you or the community you live in next?
Report Post »eric52060
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 3:01pmYou are mistaken… You think this place is big enough for all the members? The whole State of South Dakota might not be big enough. Oh by the way, the Church is constructing the largest arena in the world. Just an fyi….
Report Post »Kaoscontrol
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:46am“Inglesia Ni Christo” is a bizarre bunch. In the Phillipines they build a church every 7 kilometers, so you see them everywhere. The churches have rocket shaped spires on each corner of the buildings so they can ‘blast off’ at the rapture. Will SD be the place they build their central spaceport? I guess they don’t realize most of the aliens are in Washington DC.
Report Post »sewinthyme
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:30amThe real story here is why in the heck a ghost town with no residents still has an active post office?! It is really no wonder that the postal service is bankrupt!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:41amThat junk mail has to be delivered… alive or dead.
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 11:20amTo members of this church.. I thought that you might have something going there until I read that you believe that Jesus was just a profit…just like the Muslims…oh and by the way…Pope Pius was the man who started their heathen babylonian religion so that he could raise up a powerful army to take Jerusalem for the Vatican City. But aside from that, you should try reading John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. So , a certain church ..which has its statues and prays to Saints…which God calls Idolatry because Jesus/Yeshuah said only to pray to God the Father in Yashuah’s name, you have called an apostate. If you don’t believe that Yashuah is the only begotten Son of God, that he died for our sins and rose the third day..then what does that make you? You are a false religion..
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 1:44pm@Ashes
Two thumbs up for declaring Jesus your Savior! All of us can only go to the Father thru the Son (belief). Rejection of the Son is rejection of the Father.
I encourage you to do a little research on this Church’s doctrine and not take this article “Jesus is just a prophet” wholly as truth. This Church of Jesus Christ (Iglesia ni Cristo church) doesn’t hold the Trinity (ONE God) belief and believe in the Godhead of sorts. From my understanding they believe Jesus forgives sin and one can only be saved thru Jesus.
Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior but I too do not believe in Catholic born “Trinity”. Understand I‘m not saying all this Church’s doctrine is valid just simply showing this article doesn‘t do justice for this Church’s actual beliefs. Do a little research….Hope you are well!
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 2:40pmHi Okie…I did do some research on them as you suggested. They aren’t all that bad…kind of like Jehovah’s witnesses. i have studied with all three..JH”S, not so much the Church of Christ, but a friend in school was one and he became a pastor there., and the Seven Day Adventists.. That is why I thought that they might be on to something..I mean they recognise the Apostate Church….Mystery Babylon.. As for the divinity of Christ. Please check out 1 John 1-5 and this URL http://www.christnotes.org/commentary.php?b=43&c=1&com=mhc I used to believe somewhat like they do until I really started doing so much study. God the Father was all that I really knew. I didn’t know much about Yashuah. But in studying with Messianic Jews…I learned that they called Him the Word all through the old testament and he kept showing up as in The angels and the Lord showed up to talk to Sarah and Abraham to tell them of their part in the lineage of the Saviour….our Lord Yashuah and their child Issac whom this seed would come through. It is a perplexing thing, But since it is written that Jesus/Yeshuah is the only begotten Son of God..I have to believe that. The only thing I am not sure of is the Holy Spirit. For in the beginning theGod created the heaven and earth and the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And when Stephen was martyred, he looked up into the heavens and saw Yashuah standing…standing at the right hand of God. So you see Okie, even though God is omnipres
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 2:47pmcontinued..being everywhere at once…does he have physical body?..Like the one He told Moses that he could see, while placing Moses in the cleft of the rock and shielding his eyes so that he would not be blinded? I’m even wondering if Paul..when Jesus/Yashuah knocked him off his horse and he was blinded, if it was not for the sheer radiance of Christ. Anyway Okie…I wouldn’t discount that Trinity theory too much. You know…every sin can be forgiven a man except blasphemy of God’s Holy Spirit…SO that tells you how holy His Spirit.is THe Holy Spirit has feelings. is easily hurt. I may have jumped to conclusions about this church and for that I am very sorry. I am well thank you Okie. Hope you are too. Love and Blessings Friend
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 3:15pm@Ashes
Holy, Holy, Holy!
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7
“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” Romans 12:5
We are not “one body” anymore then these 3 are one body. We are different beings in one accord as the 3 are in one accord.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen…” 2 Corinthians 13:14
Here all three are mentioned in three different manners. Jesus bestowing grace, the Father, love, and the Holy Spirit administering communion.
Hebrews 1:8-9, “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”
“he saith” (God to Jesus) O GOD….
“therefore God” (Jesus being called God) “even thy GOD” (Father) “hath annointed thee……”
It is said if you do not believe in the “Trinity” you do not believe in Jesus. Yet the “Trinity” originated from where and why would they want to discredit any not believing as them? Something to ponder….
Report Post »Bearfoot
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 3:15pmashestoashes,
Regarding the Holy Spirit;
Report Post »A comparison of Bible texts that refer to the holy spirit shows that it is spoken of as ‘filling’ people; they can be ‘baptized’ with it; and they can be ‘anointed’ with it. (Luke 1:41; Matthew 3:11; Acts 10:38)
None of these expressions would be appropriate if the holy spirit were a person.
ashestoashes
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 3:29pmOkay Okie..I will ponder this with the direction of the Holy Spirit of God. Thank you.
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 3:32pm@BEARFOOT… I must admit..I hav never thought of the Holy Spirit as anything but God’s Spirit. And also, I have to wonder why Jesus told the disciples that He had to ascend to the Father before His comforter..the Holy Spirit could come to them.. Thank you.
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 3:32pmAshes
Your second post hit the nail on the head. Each, God, Jesus, Spirit have a different function, not just one God 3 different ways as “Trinity” teaches.
Father is Supreme
Son is Supreme Authority
Spirit is Divine
One little point:
James 1:13 tells us God the Father can not be tempted of sin nor does he tempteth
Matthew 4:1 tells us Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.”
How can this be if they are one thru Trinity?
Always appreciate your thoughts. Will read up on your link. Hope your day is great!
Report Post »Bearfoot
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 3:56pmashestoashes,
The apostles and all those who were yet to make up the new Christian Congregation, had to wait for God’s Holy Spirit to be given them, to empower them. When Jesus ascended to heaven after his resurrection, he presented his sacrifice to his Father, Jehovah. That sacrifice was his own perfect human body that he gave up for all of mankind if they would accept it. So, they waited for the festival of Pentecost and while gathered there, Holy Spirit was given them and that event, Pentecost of 33 C.E., was the official beginning of the Christian Congregation, the Israel of God (spiritual Israel). – Acts 2:1-13
Report Post »Up to that time, they were still under the Mosaic Law.
ashestoashes
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 4:45pm@BEARFOOT.. Wow…I knew about Pentecost…but you just refected it in such a beautiful and insightful way….Many thanks to you Bearfoot.
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 6:28pmOKIE…Yes!!I believe what you have said. Most of the time…this is how I have viewed it…but sometimes those lines get a little blurry. I always remind myself of how Jesus/Yashuah was crying out to Hashem on the cross and said “My God , my God, why have you forsaken me.” So I always do remember those things, but then members in my church blur out those lines sometimes. I have saved all that you and Bearfoot have written about today.. Thanks bunches Okie.
Report Post »trouthunter
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 5:56amPlease read my post above. I appreciate it.
Report Post »caloysano
Posted on October 12, 2011 at 10:30amFor those of you who wanted to know little more about the Church of Christ before making any conclusion about the church, here’s a URL that discuss some of its doctrines:
http://studyiglesianicristo.com/default.html
Report Post »cloudsofwar
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:03ami want to buy me a ghost town too.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:35amI wouldn’t mind one either Clouds. Four of us could split an $800 K town and still have plenty of room. Fix it up a little and you could probably make a decent living off of tourists. Create some legend of a ghostly cowboy and do ghost tours, old west tours, horse back tours etc.
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 12:15pm@AshestoAshes, you posted my thoughts exactly,I stay away from any religion or Church that states Jesus was just a prophet,he is my saviour and Lord and soon coming King
Report Post »ashestoashes
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 12:57pm@SLIM RANGER…glad to know there are like minded folks out there. Blessings.
Report Post »Oasis
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:26amI didn’t see anything in the article about the mineral rights being included in the sale. They are not usually sold with properties anymore.
I am curious whose money is paying for this?
Report Post »xoke
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:49amMineral rights are normally sold with surface unless otherwise stated in the deed. You would have to see the Warranty Deed that made the actual conveyance.
The owner of land may “sever” his/her interest in the oil, gas, and other mineral resources of the land and sell the mineral estate separately from the surface estate, or the owner may reserve the mineral estate and convey the surface estate to another.
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:23am@OASIS…..A cult with this many followers had no problem paying for this. It’s chump change for them.
Report Post »And yes they are a cult. Not a christian church. And organisation that does not believe that Jesus is part of the trinity is satanic. So what the headline should say is….satanic cult buys South Dakota town.
Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 1:48pm@MotoNUT
So anyone who does not follow the Catholic “Trinity” of ONE God is a cult? Could you show me that scripture from the Bible? Until then…….
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 5:28pm@OKIEFROMACULT…..Yes, I believe this group is a cult, and no I’m not a catholic. I’m just a Christian. You spew scripture well…In the temptation satan quoted the bible word for word, scewing the meaning..so the fact that you are quoting scripture means nothing to me……I believe Jesus is God in the flesh, not a separate spirit entitiy. I believe that the H.S. flows from God like water as it’s described in the bible, or I also look at it like electricity that flows from the Father and ties the 3 together like a circut. The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. Don‘t degrade me because I don’t believe in your scewd view of scripture. that’s all.
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 6:17pm@MotoNUT
That’s weak, because Satan quotes scripture anyone else doing so is Satan!? Ha ha ha ha ha! Notice you came casting stones….I asked for your evidence for doing so….You gave a huffy puffy rude opinion…..The only person speaking as Satan is you thru insults, hate, and insecurity. Might want to take that into account……
Again, because you follow Catholic “Trinity” and someone else does not they are a “cult”, though you yourself can not use the BIBLE to show your understanding……Maybe your belief is the cult since you can not show it from God’s Word, ever thought of that?
I will stick to my cult and Bible and you stick to your cult and opinions. Have a great day!
Report Post »motonutt
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 10:17am@OKIEFROMACULT………So you’er saying you are moving to South Dakota?
Report Post »You sound to me like and inmature christian. You don’t make sense. You are calling me a cult member after I told you I’m just a christian? And you keep relating to me as a catholic. Are you slamming all catholics because they believe in the trinity? The way I look at it, and you may not know this because of you inmaturity….Peter is the Rock foundation of the catholic church. He started the catholic church….Peter walked with Jesus, he was also present at the pentocost being filled with the Spirit of truth. Peter believed in the trinity Okie, and you don’t? Have you ever heard of the saying, “it’s better to be thought a fool and remain silent, that to open your mouth and remove all doubt”……..Peter is wrong and your’re right,,,,,yea you go with that.
Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 12:08pm@MotoNut
No I‘m saying I’ll keep following the Bible which shows the “Trinity” is not true as told by the Catholic Church. I didn’t know you were decider of who is Christian and who is not as seen in your first post above when you stated: “And organisation that does not believe that Jesus is part of the trinity is satanic.” cause only a person of weak faith would say such a thing.
You may not know this due to weak faith but Peter was never Pope. Open your Bible and see just that. Please show me from the Bible Peter believed in your Catholic Trinity. You can not because it is not true. Ya I’ve heard that saying and advise you practice it.
-Paul says their equal; 2 Corinthians 11:5
-Paul censors Peter; Galatians 2:11-16
-Peter is a pillar of Church, not the Pillar. Galatians 2:8-10
-Peter was sent to preach by others; Acts 8
-Peter did not preside the Council of Jerusalem; Acts 15
-Peter refused to have Cornelius kneel to him; Acts 10:25-26
-Peter professes he can’t forgive sin, like popes today; Acts 8:22
-Peter says he’s a pastor or elder; I Peter 5: 1-3.
‘Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of DEVILS, speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; forbidding to MARRY, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God bath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.’ I Timo
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 11, 2011 at 12:22pm@MotoNut
So let’s start from the top. You came on popping off anyone not believing in “Trinity”, like you, is a cult, Satanic. I asked for evidence for your claim. You could not provide any. You claim Peter was a “pope” and God’s Word just showed you opposite. Soooooo, you believe opposite of God’s Word in regards to “Trinity” and “pope”……Who is the “cult” again??????
My whole point was you have no authority to declare someone who does not believe as you a cult and doing so shows immaturity and insecurity. You are just trying to stir trouble. Go play with your cult members and open a Bible now and again so you might just learn something. Until then, don’t cast pebbles of lies for some of us big boys will throw stones of truth right back…Have a great day!
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:21amCreating a tourist trap, no doubt.
Report Post »TheLeftMadeMeRight
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 10:49amNo, creating a place for their church to go when the end times come…..next year.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 1:25pm@ TheLeftMadeMeRight
For all 1.7 million members or just for the ones in the U.S.?
Or just the leaders?
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:12amCool place!
Too bad it is another liberal, “anything goes” religion that doesn‘t accept God’s word, but lets others add to it at will. I wonder how they resolve the conflicts between all those “prophets?”
Also, if Christ is but one of many prophets, why did you name your church (small ‘c’) after HIM, and not the others?
I find it all very odd.
Carol Ingian
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:35amTom,
Report Post »My thoughts exactly!
the hawk
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:00pmmaybe they want to start makin cool westerns? Maybe thats where their ship is landing!
Report Post »brian8793
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:08amWho cares what their true intent is? They are Americans, and as Americans, they are allowed to worship or believe in whatever they want.
We also have the right to laugh and make fun of them. God Bless America : )
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:32amThis purchase is for a “reason”. Nobody buys up land just to have property. It’s your kind of thinking that makes everyone scratch their head when they ask “how did the Chinese manage to aquire so much land in America?”.
Report Post »momrules
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:58amMore non-Americans buying up America. At least they are not Muslim. Time will tell their true intent.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:52amThey heard our Govment is giving all kinds of things away so they packed up the truck & moved to beverly , N. Dakota that is, Movie stars, free cell phone, food stamps, life long checks for any & every reason, Yee haa, move over were comming here, okay .
Report Post »TrailBlazer66
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:52amThe mineral rights just might be on to something there!
Report Post »starman70
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:48amIt’s simple, they heard about the oil under South Dakota and hope their church will become rich from it.
holyman
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:47amAny church which doesn’t hold to the truth of the trinty, isn’t truly a christian church. For to be a follower of Jesus Christ one cannot seperate Him from the Father or from His Holy Spirit. They have every right to spend their money and by this town. As of now we are still a free country.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 9:38amRight on Holy man.
Report Post »Mandors
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 11:22amI would qualify that observation with “any church that doesn’t believe in the divinity of Jesus Christ is not a Christian church.” In the past there have been differences in belief, separating Christ, God the Father and the Holy Spirit, as each or either distinct but still divine. These beliefs were often dismissed as heresy, but the heretics still in some cases worshiped Christ. I think it is when a “church” tries to reduce Jesus to being merely a wise human being whose teaches are on a par with other philosophers, its religion is no longer “Christian.”
Report Post »Lion420
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:42amCXonsidering what goes on in their neck of the woods, I‘d say they’re looking to get outta dodge! this lil town is going to grow and fast. I say good for them.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:34amUh oh…..can you spell CULT? Who cares? We need more cults.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:33amEveryone understand this much, I am a former chaplain and preacher of the SDA churches, and still hold to most of the beliefs; yet this is an offshoot from the Adventists just as the Jehovahs Witness is as well.
The main difference is they have indeed been following of an apostate and corrupted version of the bible, with leadership often having perverted the true meaning of the scriptures for their own purposes and for the manipulation of others.
Report Post »Bearfoot
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 11:13amBe careful Snowleopard, you are entering an area you nothing about. Make judgmental statements without a clear understanding of the facts will only bring you embarrassment.
Just for clarity, is your comment referring to the Filipino church or Jehovah’s Witnesses?
Report Post »NotQuiteJaded
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 11:17amI was a missionary in the Philippines for two years, and meet many Inglesia members. Some would talk and were friendly, while most were afraid to speak with me. The church openly practiced fines and shunning for a variety of reasons, including missing church or talking to other faiths. One time, one of their ministers even threatened me with a machete to get me and my fellow missionaries to leave his neighborhood (church owned neighborhood and housing). I don’t know if that area’s actions are a good representation of the whole, but that area congregation was very controlling.
Report Post »Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 1:26pm@Bearfoot
Saw your post and had a question. Were Jehovah Witness’s in Germany during Hitler forced to wear I think I read a purple star when put in concentration camps? Read in a book and never was taught that before.
Snow
I don‘t think Jehovah’s Witness came from SDA, though a lot of beliefs are aligned or similar. If it were not for the SDA we wouldn’t have cereal to eat that I enjoy so much! (Kellogg’s) I’m not SDA but I do worship on Saturday, the sabbath, and find many of their views true.
Hope you both are well.
Report Post »Bearfoot
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 2:24pmOkie from Muskogee,
Report Post »The Nazi government during WW2 required Jehovah‘s Witnesses to wear purple triangle’s to identify them in the concentration camps. The Jews wore a star to differentiate between them from JW’s.
Okie from Muskogee
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 2:47pm@BearFoot
I knew the Jewish part but never heard the JW part. Amazing, not that it happened but that they were distinguished like that. Thanks for info and stay safe my friend.
Report Post »BelindaB
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:30amThis story does not have much information attached to it….BUT….the American People WILL report the story, as the journalists of today are not qualified to do so, either because they are being paid to NOT report EVERYTHING….or they are just plain stupid.
Report Post »atechgeek
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:22amI guess it’s better than the Church of Allah .. or is it ?? Might need top look into this.
Report Post »Goohuman
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:13amJust tryin to get further away from China, I guess.
Report Post »Dr Vel
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:29amSince the government has laid claim to something like 40 percent of our land, they have no gold, and the Dems keep increasing our debt to China by nonstop spending they will have to give the land to China to cover the debt. Therefore the Filipino’s are moving closer to China. Before long there will be billboards in Yellowstone with giant pictures of Mao.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:04amDamn… it look like American is up For Sale… to anyone!
Report Post »Zorro6821
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:17amIt is and whoever has the cash can buy what’s left. The Chinese already own the best real estate. If politicians can be bought cheap then why not everything else. What is the surprise? America the land of the “ Bargain”. The funny part is that we that taxpayer paid for this stuff. What a country! Capitalism at its finest, where everything has a price. How free are we? Not so much.
Report Post »kralspaces
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 7:56amBecause there is gold in them thar hills, black gold that is.
Report Post »jnobfan
Posted on October 10, 2011 at 8:20amThe article doesn’t say anything about mineral rights but if it is included it could be a huge bargain
Report Post »