The Writings of Dustin Battles

Ten years ago two nerdy college freshmen met each other in choir. Today, these two friends—still somewhat nerdy, but no longer freshmen—wrote a hymn together. It's called Mercy  and is published through ChurchWorksMedia.com. Click the link here to see the sheet music and mp3 (piano) recording of Mercy. Lyrics: Mercy—Lord, have mercy! Be merciful to me. All these stains within me prove my iniquity.  Wash me white and spotless as snow in winter days.  Mercy—Lord, have mercy upon my wicked ways. Mercy—show more mercy: I keep desiring sin.  Freed from sin's dark prison, yet still I run back in.  Lead me by Your Spirit to walk in paths of light.  Mercy—show more mercy that I may cherish Christ. Mercy—precious mercy: You’re loyal to Your own.  By Your loving covenant we’ll never be alone.  Hold us close as children who look to You for care.  Mercy—precious mercy: a bond beyond compare. Mercy—Lord, have mercy—abundant, rich, and pure.  Ceaseless

A forthcoming choral anthem published by Beckenhorst Press features my lyrics and music by Dan Forrest. Dan wrote some sobering but powerful music that completely captures the grief Christ's sacrifice expressed in the text. The text is written in a 1st-person narrative by Christ in the garden of Gethsemene and on the cross at Golgotha. “How long, My God, will You neglect My prayer? Will You forget these tears of dark despair? Yet not My will, but Yours alone be done: Forsake not man, but Me—Your sinless Son. I, Christ the Son, obey Your great command, Enduring punishment for sinful man. As Son and silent Lamb, I choose this path: Accept rejection to appease Your wrath.” “O why, My God, have You forsaken Me? Why have You now refused My final plea? Though I cry out in sorrow, pain, and fear, You turn Your back; in silence, disappear. I, Christ the Son, bear all their sin alone, Embracing judgment from Your glorious throne. As Son and spotless Lamb,

In Fall of 2012, I collaborated with Dan Kreider to write Keep Heart . Dan wrote the music, I wrote the lyrics. Three years later, we are re-releasing it. Dan and I are distributing it through Grace Music, which Dan runs as worship pastor of Grace Immanuel Bible Church, Jupiter, Florida. Most of the lyrics are the same, but some are changed from its 2012 edition. I originally wrote these words as an encouragement for suffering Christians. Rather than "lose heart" (2 Corinthians 4), we should "take heart." “ So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. ” (2 Corinthians 4:16–18 ESV) Here are the lyrics to the song: Take heart, O