The Writings of Dustin Battles

Several people have asked for the streamlined version of my new hymn. So here are the lyrics and links to my new hymn, "Beneath the Sun." Annotated version Four-part hymn Video of me singing it a cappella My new creator Facebook page Projection slides and other downloads here Lyrics: 1. Beneath the sun my soul is sighing: how brief a vapor is my life! My gain is gone, my days are dying. I chase the wind and stir up strife. Why is my life, O God, not fruitful? Will nothing last that I have done?  Life is unfair, for all is futile. There's nothing new beneath the sun.  [2.] I told myself, “Perhaps some pleasure will fill the void within my soul. Perhaps hard work or gaining treasure will make me wise and not a fool.” But my delight turned into sorrow, transformed before my very eyes. What charms today dissolves tomorrow. Earth never fully satisfies. 3. There is a season under heaven, a task and time for everything. I cannot grasp the span I’m given, or know what future days...

Beneath the Sun A hymn based on the book of Ecclesiastes Words: © 2022 Dustin Battles Tune: WAYFARING STRANGER Lyrics with footnotes to Scripture passages: 1. Beneath the sun [1]  my soul is sighing: [2] how brief a vapor [3]   is my life ! [4] My gain is gone , [5]   my days  are dying. [6] I chase the wind [7]  and   stir up  strife. [8] Why is my life,  O God , not fruitful? [9] Will nothing last that I have done? [10]   Life is  unfair, [11]   for all is futile. [12] There's nothing new beneath the sun . [13]   [ 2 . ] I told myself, “Perhaps some pleasure [14] will fill the void  within my soul. [15] Perhaps hard work [16]  or gaining treasure [17] will make me wise [18]  and not a fool.” [19] But my delight [20]  turned into sorro w , [21] transformed before my very eyes. [22] What charms today dissolves tomorrow. [23] Earth never fully satisfies. 3 . There is a season under heave...

A poem on the letters to the seven churches in Revelation 2–4 I wrote in my personal devotions a few months ago when nearing the end of my journey to read through the whole Bible. Dear Ephesus, you work so hard and wicked people there you barred. Yet you have lost your earlier love, so now repent; love God above. Dear Smyrna, rich, while poor, in pain— fear not to suffer once again. Be faithful, even unto death, and I will give you life and breath. Dear Pergamum, where Satan lives, your faith, surprisingly, still thrives.  But you condone such heresy if you do not repent, you'll die! Dear Thyatira, you have shown your deeds, your faith, your love have grown. But this about you I despise: you bear that prostitute who lies. Dear Sardis, you all really think  you are alive? You're at death's brink! So wake up! Strengthen what remains,  else I will frighten, give you pains. Dear Philadelphia, I know your deeds, yet little strength to show. you keep my name, true all the while...

Mrs. J. A. Trench wrote a hymn text well over one hundred years ago entitled, "Buried in the Grave of Jesus." Much of it was outdated or misunderstood, so I moderately edited it for our church. Praise the Lord we had two ladies baptized, an octogenarian and a young wife and mother expecting a child! So I edited this hymn to be sung at their baptism service.  If I had to estimate who gets the credit for this hymn, it's probably 70% Mrs. Trench and 30% me. But it's all because of Jesus!  Words: Mrs. J. A. Trench (1843-1925) and Dustin Battles (1986– ) Music: NETTLETON, Anonymous 1. Buried in the grave of Jesus, we believe what God has said: Sin has no more pow’r to seize us, since in Jesus we were dead.  All the waves rolled over Jesus, there exhausted all their power. Death and judgment are behind us, grace and glory are before. 2. Firstfruits of the resurrection, Christ is risen from the tomb. Now we are a new creation: old has passed, the new has come.  Jesus died, ...

We recently had a baptism at our church. I gave the one being baptized several baptism hymns to consider for us to use during the worship service. He chose this hymn, but because it was so antiquated in language, I modernized and changed a lot of it. So it's originally a text by John Eustace Giles but I changed much of it.  I was made aware of this hymn by David Ward's website ThousandTongues (now called Hymnicity), but I want back to the original wording and updated it myself without consulting his. So I think it can rightly be called a new hymn with an old heritage.  Words: John Eustace Giles (1805–1875) and © Dustin R. Battles (1986– )   Suggested Music: Henry Smart, 1867 (REGENT SQUARE) How this sacred sign reminds me Savior, of your love to me. Buried with you, baptism binds me to you for eternity; Resurrection, resurrection guarantees new life for me! As I view the pool before me should I shun your selfless love? Though unworthy ...

Why I switched to CSB from the NIV as my primary preaching and teaching translation: Short explanation In short, it's a modern language translation with a high level of accuracy and a good reputation.  Medium explanation It is just as accurate (if not more so) than the translation I was using before, just as vernacular, but a lot less baggage/stigma—plus, a lot of our members are using it anyway.  Long explanation I recently switched my main preaching and teaching translation to the Christian Standard Bible (CSB). Any time a pastor or church switches from one translation to another, it could be fodder for controversy. So let me explain my reasons. (If you're wondering which translation I switched from, I’ll get to that in a moment.) First, a clarification. I’m not of the opinion that there’s one “best” translation. We have scores of good ones like NASB, ESV, NET, and even the NLT (yes, I know the Message is not really a translation).  Why not one best translation?  ...