2011 Beacroft Cliff Jumping Video

Memories from Aug 2000 Beacroft Backpacking Trip

Later this month, I’ll be going on a backpacking trip in Northern California. I went on the exact same trip eleven years ago, four days after getting married. During that trip, I wrote my wife a long letter which included a few details about the trip. Eleven years later, I just found that letter in a box of memorabilia along with pictures from the trip.

I have removed all the personal subjects and outpourings of love to my wife (which was the majority of the letter) and present here only the details of the hike found in the letter.

August 17, 2000

It’s the evening of the first day of the backpacking trip. If my writing isn’t too good, that’s because it’s getting dark. We did a lot of hard hiking today with some pretty steep uphills and downhills. We had a long way to hike anyway, but then we took a wrong turn that added about 2 extra miles. I really like the strenuous exercise, and I’m having a lot of fun hanging out with Clint, Mike, and Joel. It’s really beautiful here. We’ve seen a lot of bear droppings along the trail, but no bears yet.

Breakfast (me on the left)

Clint

Me

August 18, 2000

The sun is just going down after the second day. We hiked extra today so we can just stay in this cool place where we are all day tomorrow. Then on the last day, we’ll get up early and hike out. We didn’t start backpacking until 1:30 this afternoon, so for the morning, we walked to this great double waterfall with really deep lagoons at the bottom. I can’t even describe how cool it was; you would just have to see pictures of it. We jumped off some really high rocks into the water, which was a little scary the first time, but after that it was cool. The place we’re at today seems to have better and higher rock jumps. We saw a rattlesnake on the way to that place this morning. I think it had about 7 rattles, making it about 7 years old. Then about 200 feet from our current campsite we saw a bear! I told you there were bears out here! I just finished bathing myself with soap in the freezing river water. My beard is starting to grow in nicely; it’s a shame I’ll have to shave it off on Monday so I can go look for a job. We’ve all been getting along well, except I really made my uncle mad with some things I said at lunchtime (of course having to do with the Bible/religion. I love backpacking, and I really want to do it again.

Clint's first jump of the trip

Me swimming

Joel jumping in

Me in the bottom of the waterfall (look closely)

Me in the middle

Now we’re lying on our backs on the rocks looking up at all the bats swarming around. They just woke up now that it’s getting dark. The sky is all just kind of a light solid purple color. I’m getting a little tired of dehydrated foods. I just wish I could have some Burger King right now…

August 19, 2000

I just woke up on day 3. It was a little hard to sleep because we were afraid of that bear getting into our stuff or getting into us. Uncle Mike has been to this place 10-11 times. 5 of those times he’s seen a bear, and 3 of those times someone’s backpack was eaten into or stolen by a bear.

Uncle Mike swan dive (look closely)

3:00pm

We just finished jumping off some 30 foot high rock jumps (we used a rope to measure the height). We found a big pile of fresh bear dung about 35 feet outside our camp. It must have been deposited since yesterday evening, so we moved our camp for tonight down closer to the water. Tonight’s our last night so Clint and I are going to sleep up on some high rocks, just to do something different. The bad guys came by about an hour and a half ago, but luckily we had already put out our campfire that we had cooked our lunch with. They were warning us about how hard our hike out tomorrow will be, but I’m sure they were exaggerating a little.

I call this picture "Joel descends into the pit"

Clint atop the rocks

Well, it’s getting dark on the 3rd night. I’m a little anxious to get home at this point. I’m looking forward to the hard hike out of here tomorrow morning. I just organized my pack for it and burned whatever extra food I had that I know I won’t eat. We’ll be climbing up to a place 3,000 feet higher than we are now.

Muay Thai Training...Pastor Anderson Style

Yes! I won yesterday in court!

This video contains excerpts from my hearing yesterday in Phoenix Municipal Court. I was found "not responsible" for the charge (i.e. I won).

The charge was a bogus parking ticket.

Letter to Salome Justice Court

Salome Justice Court
310 Salome Road
Salome, AZ 85348
Ph: (928) 859-3871
Fax: (928) 859-3709

Re: Complaint #38223

I intend to plead "not guilty" to this complaint and am requesting either a hearing or that the charge be dismissed.

I was driving eastbound on I-10 at approximately 11:20pm on 6/11/11 at the legal speed limit when an unknown vehicle began to follow me in my blind spot. The vehicle stayed in my blind spot for an extended period of time which started to make me nervous. I slowed down a little to let the car pass, but when I slowed down, they slowed down also. I sped up a little, and they sped up also. I kept looking over my shoulder to try to figure out why this vehicle was stalking and harassing me. It seemed very suspicious. In the process of nervously looking over my shoulder trying to identify who had been purposely cruising in my blind spot for the last few minutes, my wheels touched the bumpy portion of the white line to the right of the slow lane in which I was traveling. This line separates the slow lane from the shoulder.

At this point, lights and siren instantly came on, and I pulled over, now knowing that it was a police car that had been stalking me (I had wondered if it was a police car but had no idea who it was that was doing this to me). The officer issued me a citation for "unsafe lane usage." I told him that I was driving just fine until he came along and stalked my blind spot which I considered very unsafe. He laughed at me and said, "Oh, so it's my fault that you touched the white line." I told him that it was his fault because it scared me that someone was cruising my blind spot for so long and wouldn't leave me alone. I had no idea who it was, which is why I kept looking over my shoulder, which resulted in me touching the white line. Everything was going fine before he came along. He caused the entire situation!

He told me that I must have been distracted or watching a video or something. I told him that I don't watch videos, and that I was listening to an audiobook of "Crime and Punishment" by Fyodor Dostoevsky and had both eyes on the road and both hands on the wheel. I then showed him the audiobook. Everything was going great until he began stalking me!

I am requesting that the charge of "unsafe lane usage" be dismissed. If the charge is not dismissed, then I am requesting a court date to present my testimony to the judge and plead "not guilty" to this charge.

Sincerely,
Steven L Anderson

My 2008 Hyndai Sonata

I just broke the 200,000 mile mark in my 2008 Hyundai Sonata. The most amazing part about it is that after driving all those miles, this car has never broken down or needed any repairs other than basic maintenance (oil changes, tires, spark plugs once, battery once). I've known many people who drove their car more than 200,000 miles, but usually the car needed several repairs in that time.

Not only that, but I haven't exactly treated this car very well. I've been good about oil changes, but let's face it: I have treated this car pretty roughly. It's primarily been a work vehicle and has had 6 foot ladders jammed into it, been driven off road, slammed into snow banks, and the front bumper is literally held together with wire ties (as a result of my snow adventure). Not only that, but I have also loaned out my car to several of the young whippersnappers at our church for thousands of miles on end for both church and business related uses. Some of them did not drive it as gently as I do . Yet, 200,000 miles later, it still runs great and has never broken down! Either God has supernaturally blessed this vehicle, the Hyundai Sonata is a super-reliable car, or both!

In addition, back when I was traveling a lot, I slept in my car approximately 200 times (one year I actually counted, and it came out to 65), usually with the engine running. That means that for hundreds of hours the engine was running in the "Hyundai Hotel" a.k.a. "Sonata Suites" without even logging any miles on the odometer! Yet the car still runs like new!

Well, this weekend I had my first car trouble with this car. However, it can't be blamed on the car or the Koreans who built it since it was completely my fault. I was stretching my legs on a long drive and accidentally kicked the sensor on the brake pedal and broke it. This caused the speedometer to go to zero and the check engine light to come on. It also would not allow me to shift the car from drive to park or vice versa without pushing the shift lock release button with a screwdriver. I tried to put it back together, but it was too broken. I continued to drive the car like that until I could get it to a Hyundai dealer. The replacement part was only $7.58! I installed it myself, replaced the fuse (the car came with 3 spares), and my car was back to normal.

When this car finally gives up the ghost, I will probably just turn around and buy another Hyundai Sonata because this car has been great.

Why Women Should Not Wear Head-Coverings

1Cor 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
1Cor 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 1Cor 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
1Cor 11:6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
1Cor 11:7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
1Cor 11:8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.
1Cor 11:9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. 1Cor 11:10 For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
1Cor 11:11 Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
1Cor 11:12 For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
1Cor 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1Cor 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1Cor 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
1Cor 11:16 But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.

Some people have misinterpreted 1 Corinthians 11 and believe that it is commanding women to wear hats or "head-coverings" of some kind. In this chapter, God is dealing with gender roles and the authority that a man has over his wife. In verse 3, the authority that a man has over his wife is likened unto the authority that God has over a man. God is the "head" (authority figure) of the man, and the man is the "head" (authority figure) of the woman. This matches perfectly with what the Bible says in Ephesians 5:

Eph 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Eph 5:24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

As we continue in 1 Corinthians 11, verses 4-6 state:

1Cor 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head. 1Cor 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
1Cor 11:6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

According to these verses women should have their heads "covered," and men should not. In fact, if a woman's head is not covered, that is just as bad as if she were "shorn" or "shaven." Notice that the Bible says that it is a "shame" for a woman to be shorn or shaven. We all know what "shaven" means, but what does the word "shorn" mean? The Bible uses the word "shorn" one other time in the New Testament:

Acts 18:18 And Paul after this tarried there yet a good while, and then took his leave of the brethren, and sailed thence into Syria, and with him Priscilla and Aquila; having shorn his head in Cenchrea: for he had a vow.

The vow that the Bible is referring to here is a Nazarite vow from the Old Testament. Notice what the Bible commands about the Nazarite vow in Numbers 6:

Num 6:5 All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head: until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy, and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow.

Num 6:18 And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace offerings.

Once again, the Bible is its own dictionary. Being "shorn" is another word for being "shaven." Paul having his head shaved with a razor is referred to as him being "shorn." Therefore God is saying that a woman being "uncovered" is just as shameful as her shaving her head completely bald as Paul did in Acts 18.

So, what is this "covering"?

1Cor 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
1Cor 11:14 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
1Cor 11:15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

According to verses 13-15, a woman is "uncovered" if she does not have "long hair." A woman is therefore commanded to have long hair, and a man is commanded not to have long hair.

Those who believe in women wearing external "head-coverings" or bonnets on their heads will argue that even though long hair is a covering (indefinite article), women still need to wear an additional covering or bonnet on their heads. This is easily disproved with the Bible. The same passage that tells women to be covered tells men not to be covered. Therefore, if this were talking about something other than long hair (i.e. a "head-covering" or bonnet), it would be a sin for a man to wear it while praying or prophesying. This is directly in contradiction with many Old Testament passages that command the Old Testament priests to wear bonnets and mitres while ministering in the priests office:

Exo 28:40 And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty.
Exo 28:41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.

Exo 29:9 And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute: and thou shalt consecrate Aaron and his sons.

Exo 39:27 And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons,
Exo 39:28 And a mitre of fine linen, and goodly bonnets of fine linen, and linen breeches of fine twined linen,

Lev 8:13 And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them, and girded them with girdles, and put bonnets upon them; as the LORD commanded Moses.

Eze 44:17 And it shall come to pass, that when they enter in at the gates of the inner court, they shall be clothed with linen garments; and no wool shall come upon them, whiles they minister in the gates of the inner court, and within.
Eze 44:18 They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.

Notice that the priest's clothing consisted of coats, britches (pants), and bonnets. Why would God tell us that "nature itself" teaches us that a woman should wear a head-covering, and that men should not, when he commanded over and over again that the priests (who were men of course) were required to wear bonnets when they prayed and prophesied in the priests office! The covering referred to in 1 Corinthians 11 is long hair, as defined in the passage itself; it is not a bonnet or head-covering.

This is consistent with the Old Testament, which commanded the priests not to have long hair:

Eze 44:20 Neither shall they shave their heads, nor suffer their locks to grow long; they shall only poll their heads.

They were commanded to be neither completely bald nor long-haired, but rather to "poll" (i.e. cut short the hair on) their heads.

Other proponents of "head-coverings" on women will say that if you "go back to the Greek," you'll see that the word for "covering" in verse 15 is different than the other words used for "covering" in the passage. Of course, they are not fluent in Greek, but because the words look a lot different, they assume that they must be talking about completely different things. However, there are many examples in our language of words that look completely different as different parts of speech, but that are actually the same. Here are a few examples:

- having faith (noun) means that you believe (verb).
- being undressed (adjective) means you aren't wearing any clothes (noun).
- doing something manually (adverb) means that you did it by hand (noun).
- thing that are lunar (adjective) have to do with the moon (noun).

You see how identical words can look completely different as different parts of speech. Therefore a woman can be uncovered (adjective - ακατακαλυπτω) because she is not wearing a covering (noun - περιβολαιου). Just because the words look the same in English does not mean that they will look the same in Greek. Apparently these head-covering advocates who couldn't even order a meal in a Greek restaurant think they know more than the KJV translators. This is why one should always beware when anyone has to "go back to the Greek" to prove their doctrine.

Now that we understand what "covering" is referring to in 1 Corinthians 11 (i.e. long hair), let's go back and look at the passage with this definition in mind:

1Cor 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
1Cor 11:4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered (i.e. having long hair), dishonoureth his head (i.e. dishonours Jesus Christ - see previous verse).
1Cor 11:5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered (i.e. with short hair) dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. (i.e. if a woman doesn't have long hair, she might as well be bald!)
1Cor 11:6 For if the woman be not covered (i.e. she has short hair), let her also be shorn : but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. (i.e. in God's eyes, it is just as much of a shame for a woman to have short hair, as it is for her to be completely shaved bald).

You may say, "Okay, Pastor Anderson, I get it. Women do not have to wear head-coverings, but they do have to have long hair. But can't they wear head-coverings if they want to? Why are you against head-coverings?"

I am against head-coverings on women for two reasons:

1. I am against head-coverings because they associate you with the wrong crowd spiritually. Every church or pastor I have ever seen or known that taught that women were commanded to wear head-coverings was wrong on the Gospel. I have never seen or heard of a church that taught that women must wear head-coverings that believed that salvation was by faith alone. The churches and teachers promoting head-coverings on women teach a works-based salvation in one of the following forms:

- some teach you can lose your salvation
- some teach you must repent of your sins in order to be saved
- some teach you must surrender your life to Christ in order to be saved
- some teach Calvinist doctrines of "grace" which teach that if you don't have works, you aren't saved, and that God is the one who chooses who will be saved and who will be damned (TULIP).

The Bible on the other hand states that salvation is by faith alone:

Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Rom 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I have never seen or heard of any church that preached Bible salvation that taught women to wear head-coverings. Therefore, wearing a head-covering will lump you in with unsaved false teachers such as the Amish, Pentecostals, etc.

Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

1Thess 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

2. I am against head-coverings because they are not modest apparel. Yes, you got that right, I said that they are not modest apparel:

1Tim 2:9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
1Tim 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

The word "modest" in these verses is often misinterpreted to only mean "not revealing" or "not promiscuous." However, there is nothing revealing or promiscuous about broided hair, gold, or pearls. This passage is telling ladies not to dress in a way that draws attention to themselves. Their good works should be what stand out, not their appearance, clothing, hair, or jewelry. Instead of a "Christian uniform," it should be the good works of Christian ladies that stand out to the world.

mod·est

/ˈmɒdɪst/ Show Spelled[mod-ist]

–adjective

1.having or showing a moderate or humble estimate of one's merits, importance, etc.; free from vanity, egotism, boastfulness, or great pretensions.

Women who wear head-coverings or Amish-looking dresses are doing so in order to purposely look different and stand out. There are many beautiful and stylish dresses for women to wear that are very modest and and not revealing whatsoever, but that do not purposely draw attention and cry out, "Look at me! Look how 'modest' I am!" Purposely drawing attention to yourself is neither modesty nor humility!

If ladies who practice "head-covering" were truly just trying to obey scripture and not draw attention to themselves, then why not wear a "head-covering" something like this:


or this:


Instead, this is what you usually see:


or this:

Conclusion:

Ladies are commanded by the Bible to have long hair. They are not commanded to wear an external head covering of any kind. If they do wear one, people will probably associate them with religions that preach a false Gospel.