The Writings of Dustin Battles

Dan Forrest has done a wonderful solo piano rendition of his tune to my text "Forsaken" published with Beckenhorst in 2014!  Here's the link to listen. Here's my original blog post from 2014.

My college friend Peter Anglea (pronounced "angel") has put together his music composition abilities and computer programming skills to develop this amazing website called Doxology .  You can see download slides or sheets for 4-part hymns, lead sheets, or just the lyrics—and you can even change the key! All for free! It's a really creative and unique idea. Kudos to Peter! I have three songs on there—one original and two updates to historic texts: Help My Unbelief (with Paul Keew, administered by ChurchWorksMedia) I Saw One Hanging on a Tree (updated text by John Newton, paired with KINGSFOLD) My Song Is Love Unknown (I lightly updated the text and kept it paired with LOVE UNKNOWN)

Last year I helped Dan Kreider edit (along with many others) what's appropriately called the  New Psalter . For those who don't know, a psalter is collection of songs from the Psalms. The New Psalter is the best psalter on the market today, in my opinion.  The settings are often historic, yet other are new. The tunes range from familiar to fresh. Authors include historic ones like Watts, Getty, Papa, Psalter 1912, and two settings of mine: Psalm 130: Out of the Depths I worked on this psalm setting for literally 6 years. All because I couldn't get it to the point where I was happy with it. But when there's a new psalter coming out, I had motivation! It's paired with a lovely melancholy English folk song called "Turtle Dove." Psalm 85: In Times of Old (with Dan Kreider) When Dan was working on a setting of Psalm 85 for the New Psalter, he asked me to help him hone it. So it ended up being 1/2–3/4 Dan's work and 1/4–1/2 mine. I think the collaboration t...

A couple years ago (I know—I'm quite behind the times), the 9th edition of the Wilds Songbook was released. It includes several songs whose words I composed. Many thanks to the music composers (names in parentheses below) who brought these texts to life. And also thanks to the Wilds for publishing these! From Heaven's Holy Throne (with James Koerts) Mercy (with Joey Hoelscher) Behold How Every Wound (with Reba Snyder Miller) Be Merciful, O God, to Me (Psalm 57) (with James Koerts) Here Is Love (a light modernization of the classic hymn) Copies are available for purchase here . 

I first wrote a draft of a text with the words, "I can trust You when I see every step You have for me..." in my devotions two years ago. Dozens (hundreds?) of edits and iterations later, the text has been finalized as follows: 1. (Matt 14:22–33) I can trust You when I see every step You’ve planned for me, But when wind and waves arise fear awakens in my eyes.                                                   Why do I distrust and fear? You will never disappear. Reach into this stormy sea, hear my cry, and rescue me. Refrain: I believe, yes, I believe. Help, oh Lord, my unbelief! I believe, yes, I believe. Help, oh Lord, my unbelief! 2. (Psa 51:9–12; cf. Psa 42:2; Psa 90:14) I am fully satisfied when my heart delights in Christ. But when I give in to sin, only hollow joys remain. Who can satisfy but You? You can fill me through and through. Quen...

Few writers attempt to cover the Bible's message in one text/poem. This is my attempt to do so. However, I couldn't find a tune that seemed that seemed to fit the text; that is, until David Galvin stumbled across a Saint-Saëns piano concerto tune that, in my opinion, fits the text perfectly! David adapted it so that it's more singable. See below for the text or click here to view the full text and music PDF. Our Glorious God Text by Dustin Battles Music by Camille Saint-Saëns (Piano Concerto No. 4, 2nd movement), Adapt. By David Galvin 8.8.8.8.D 1.  Our glorious God unveiled His might, Creating heavens, seas, and lands. He spoke and there was glorious light; He fashioned Adam with His hands. The skies declare that He is Lord; We join with them to shout His name! All things that are came by His word, For God does all for His own fame. 2.  Of Eden’s fruit mankind could eat, But not the tree of knowledge there. Yet with his ...

He Stepped from Heaven’s Holy Throne Text by Dustin Battles Music by James Koerts Copyright 2015 by The Wilds PDF available here.  1. He stepped from heaven’s holy throne To take a body like our own.  With love so great, in manner meek, For sinners Jesus came to seek.  2. Christ lived a humble, blameless life, Yet men in hatred caused Him strife. Among the thieves they nailed Him high,  Though we deserved that death to die.  3. When Jesus died, a darkness fell, As if creation could not tell If it would ever once more shine  The glories of the King divine.  4. Then Christ arose just as He said: He crushed our sin and Satan’s head. The light of Jesus’ empty grave, Proves Christ our Savior came to save! 5. No more a servant, now a King— He rules now over everything. Robed in His garments free from stains, We worship Him who ever reigns. Chorus: On bended knee we bow to You— Redeem...