by Cowboy Bob Sorensen
Strange title, isn't it? Sounds like something in a young adult book series, number eight following Piltdown Superman and the Clock in the Tower and The Case of the Vanishing Aircar. Actually, this is a bit of an introspective and autobiographical thing; it helps me get some thoughts spelled out, and also reveals a bit of "behind the scenes" information for the few who may find it a mite interesting. And maybe I can get rid of an earworm. But I can't explain why I felt so compelled to write this article.
People who have heard my interviews and podcasts may remember this part of the story. Way back yonder when I began the "Evolutionary Truth by Piltdown Superman (There is no truth in goo-to-you evolution)" site, I was wondering what to call it. Piltdown Man was a fraudulent evolutionary ancestor that fooled many scientists for over 40 years, so putting that in the title would be a reminder of gullibility based on worldview biases. Somehow, the term "Piltdown Superman" came to mind. Then I realized that I was remembering a song by the late great metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio called "Sunset Superman". Nice rhythm, so I put the two together.
Let me holler "Whoa!" and make it clear that I don't endorse the man's work, as it was laden with occult imagery and such. I think many times recording artists will crank out songs for their own sake, and occult imagery sells almost as much as songs about angst. One might think that groups like Black Sabbath were dedicated Satanists, but that is not the case; they just wrote stuff to perform and sell, like many other bands. Ronnie James Dio provided two vocal tracks for an album by Kerry Livgren (formerly of rock band Kansas) after his conversion to Christ. One of these was the anti-Satan "Mask of the Great Deceiver". I was hoping to hear that Dio had converted, but I'm sorry to say I don't think that ever happened.
All right, so we've established the origin of the Website's title, and that musicians do things because they want to, and to make a living. If you study on it, many writers seem to just throw some lyrics together to make a song. Have you ever had the experience of being all worked up over meaningful song lyrics, showing them to a friend, and having a "big deal" reaction? Or, rediscovering something that was special to you in the past, but reading the words now, you think, "Why did that move me so much?" I certainly have. Music is powerful in and of itself, and people can get all agitated by catchy lyrics with a great melody, but the lyrics themselves can be rather weak.
I've had the opposite of this going on with "Sunset Superman". I don't know what Ronnie James Dio was actually trying to communicate in "Sunset Superman" other than a struggle for survival and a search for meaning, but some of the lyrics to this song have taken on some meaning for me. If what I'm doing here involved Scripture, I'd be commiting eisegesis, taking text and giving it my own interpretation. Here we go.
Sure, there are false Christians and professing atheists who oppose God, apologetics, biblical creation science, individual teachers, and me. Normally, when I get attacks from atheopaths, it's like saying "Sic 'em!" to a dog, and I get more active (maybe I'm doing something right and put burrs under some saddles). It's the judgmental Christians who indulge in eisegesis, opinions and traditions that get me down at times. Thoughts of quitting bring to mind Jeremiah 20:9, trying to clam up about God's Word is like a burning fire in the heart, shut up in the bones.
The title repeats again a few times, plus the line, "Anybody can". I have no idea what Dio meant with that, and it seems a bit silly. But I've used it: almost anybody can use the Web to spread the truth. One lie told about me is that I make money doing this. No. While most of the things are free (Web space, graphics, social media), sometimes I pay (such as registering domain names). Can't pay too much, I hope my employer will offer overtime so I can pay for health insurance. But my expenditures are my choice, and people can have their voices heard on the Internet for little or no financial outlay — until the anti-free speech police get rolling and take that away as well, but never mind about that now.
But the darkness is getting louder, trying to shout away the light.
Before I get to the conclusion, some links if you want to hear "Sunset Superman" and read the lyrics. Here is a fan-made video of the song. Jørn Lande is a metal singer from Norway who has a powerful voice (also doing occult motifs in much of his work, so I want to make it clear that I'm not endorsing his work while admiring his vocal skill), and his version of "Sunset Superman" is true to the original, but cuts out some of the superficial parts, which I think is an improvement. Here are the lyrics for the first song under discussion.
If you don't mind, a bit more of this opening up about myself. Not nearly as much narcissistic eisegesis of song lyrics, though.
A Christian song that I knew long before Dio's 1987 "Sunset Superman" came out in 1994. It was by Steve Taylor, titled "I Just Wanna Know". This keeps coming to mind as a sort of personal anthem. It's like a prayer, and sometimes it's mine. Here is a key passage:
I hope you'll listen to the not-quite rock song "I Just Wanna Know" here, and for the lyrics, click here. Will I ever know if I'm making any kind of impact? Probably not. I keep praying that I bring glory to God while staying angry at the evil and hungry for the true. Yes, as another song says, "Farther along we'll know more about it". Until then, we have to do our parts and remain faithful. If you've read this far, please pray that I remain faithful as well, and for my creation science ministry work.
Strange title, isn't it? Sounds like something in a young adult book series, number eight following Piltdown Superman and the Clock in the Tower and The Case of the Vanishing Aircar. Actually, this is a bit of an introspective and autobiographical thing; it helps me get some thoughts spelled out, and also reveals a bit of "behind the scenes" information for the few who may find it a mite interesting. And maybe I can get rid of an earworm. But I can't explain why I felt so compelled to write this article.
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| "Burning Heart" image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net / digitalart |
Let me holler "Whoa!" and make it clear that I don't endorse the man's work, as it was laden with occult imagery and such. I think many times recording artists will crank out songs for their own sake, and occult imagery sells almost as much as songs about angst. One might think that groups like Black Sabbath were dedicated Satanists, but that is not the case; they just wrote stuff to perform and sell, like many other bands. Ronnie James Dio provided two vocal tracks for an album by Kerry Livgren (formerly of rock band Kansas) after his conversion to Christ. One of these was the anti-Satan "Mask of the Great Deceiver". I was hoping to hear that Dio had converted, but I'm sorry to say I don't think that ever happened.
All right, so we've established the origin of the Website's title, and that musicians do things because they want to, and to make a living. If you study on it, many writers seem to just throw some lyrics together to make a song. Have you ever had the experience of being all worked up over meaningful song lyrics, showing them to a friend, and having a "big deal" reaction? Or, rediscovering something that was special to you in the past, but reading the words now, you think, "Why did that move me so much?" I certainly have. Music is powerful in and of itself, and people can get all agitated by catchy lyrics with a great melody, but the lyrics themselves can be rather weak.
I've had the opposite of this going on with "Sunset Superman". I don't know what Ronnie James Dio was actually trying to communicate in "Sunset Superman" other than a struggle for survival and a search for meaning, but some of the lyrics to this song have taken on some meaning for me. If what I'm doing here involved Scripture, I'd be commiting eisegesis, taking text and giving it my own interpretation. Here we go.
The night has a thousand eyesNot much there for me, what I do is very public.
But he moves in only places
Where the eyes can never be
The night tells a thousand liesThat seems to be about keeping identity. It's also where I get a personal meaning. I have a "burning heart" to proclaim the truth of creation and sound biblical doctrine, and it's a battle against anti-creationists and false teachers. Sidewinders such as those want us silenced. The title, "Sunset Superman" gets repeated here.
And when you wake up in the morning
Were you dreaming — screaming
Trying to hide your burning heart
Before somebody cuts it all away?
And the dark will just get louderVery clever way to say, "sunset"! Makes me think of a line in Gary Numan's "Down in the Park" where he sang, "...until the sun cries morning", an interesting way to say, "sunrise".
As it shouts away the light
A shadow without a nameNow it's not just about accomplishment, but achieving a goal. My name is no secret, so I'm not a shadow without a name, though I'm not a household name. Will I be a hero? Not hardly! I keep praying not only for wisdom and to edify Christians, but especially for the glory of God. Still, when I wake up in the morning, I wonder if I've helped someone, given material to help strengthen someone's faith or for the presentation of the gospel (1 Peter 3:15, Jude 1:3, 2 Cor. 10:4-5), even praying for readers of the site and my social media posts. Despite not knowing, I am remaining faithful to my calling, even though I do not see the results.
But when he wakes up in the morning
He just won't know, was he a hero
Trying to hide his burning heart
Before somebody cuts it all away?
Sure, there are false Christians and professing atheists who oppose God, apologetics, biblical creation science, individual teachers, and me. Normally, when I get attacks from atheopaths, it's like saying "Sic 'em!" to a dog, and I get more active (maybe I'm doing something right and put burrs under some saddles). It's the judgmental Christians who indulge in eisegesis, opinions and traditions that get me down at times. Thoughts of quitting bring to mind Jeremiah 20:9, trying to clam up about God's Word is like a burning fire in the heart, shut up in the bones.
The title repeats again a few times, plus the line, "Anybody can". I have no idea what Dio meant with that, and it seems a bit silly. But I've used it: almost anybody can use the Web to spread the truth. One lie told about me is that I make money doing this. No. While most of the things are free (Web space, graphics, social media), sometimes I pay (such as registering domain names). Can't pay too much, I hope my employer will offer overtime so I can pay for health insurance. But my expenditures are my choice, and people can have their voices heard on the Internet for little or no financial outlay — until the anti-free speech police get rolling and take that away as well, but never mind about that now.
The night tells a thousand liesSlight change in the lyrics, and the first part is important: "the night tells a thousand lies", I think of John 3:19 and 1 Thess. 5:5. Darwinistas tell lies, commit fraud, pass off bad science as if it was actual research, and try to convince people that evolution is true. Those of us who love the light, the truth of God's Word, are waging war against the darkness. Some of it is in small efforts such as my creation science ministry, other efforts are with individuals sharing Bible verses and helpful links on social media, and then you have the "big guns" in full-time ministries.
And when you wake up in the morning
Were you dreaming — screaming
Tryin to hide your broken heart
Before somebody cuts it all away?
But the darkness is getting louder, trying to shout away the light.
Before I get to the conclusion, some links if you want to hear "Sunset Superman" and read the lyrics. Here is a fan-made video of the song. Jørn Lande is a metal singer from Norway who has a powerful voice (also doing occult motifs in much of his work, so I want to make it clear that I'm not endorsing his work while admiring his vocal skill), and his version of "Sunset Superman" is true to the original, but cuts out some of the superficial parts, which I think is an improvement. Here are the lyrics for the first song under discussion.
If you don't mind, a bit more of this opening up about myself. Not nearly as much narcissistic eisegesis of song lyrics, though.
A Christian song that I knew long before Dio's 1987 "Sunset Superman" came out in 1994. It was by Steve Taylor, titled "I Just Wanna Know". This keeps coming to mind as a sort of personal anthem. It's like a prayer, and sometimes it's mine. Here is a key passage:
I just wanna know, am I pulling people closer?Pardon me, I got a bit of emotion to wipe out of my eyes.
I just wanna be pulling them to you
I just wanna stay angry at the evil
I just wanna be hungry for the true
Search me, father and know my heart
Try me and know my mind
And if there be any wicked way in me
Pull me to the rock that is higher than I
I hope you'll listen to the not-quite rock song "I Just Wanna Know" here, and for the lyrics, click here. Will I ever know if I'm making any kind of impact? Probably not. I keep praying that I bring glory to God while staying angry at the evil and hungry for the true. Yes, as another song says, "Farther along we'll know more about it". Until then, we have to do our parts and remain faithful. If you've read this far, please pray that I remain faithful as well, and for my creation science ministry work.
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