by Dennis Gladden, By Green Pastures, ©2026
(Jun. 10, 2026) — I am not a photographer.
Even when I wrote for a newspaper, the job could not compel me to sharpen my skills.
I don’t like taking pictures. I don’t like being in photos.
Aim, focus, click.
That’s as much as I know about taking snapshots.
And of these, I know focus is paramount. You can compose a great shot but spoil it with blurriness.
Ideally, compose and capture clearly.
The same is true with writing.
Focus is important, and I have wondered lately what By Green Pastures looks like in the viewfinder.
The field on Substack is more crowded than when I debuted three and a half years ago. Bible studies, meditations, counseling, and such have multiplied. Even controversies sprinkle the landscape.
What picture of Christianity do you see in By Green Pastures?
There are pundits who work with writers to ferret out their publication’s DNA. They ask, What’s your voice? Your niche? Your distinction?
I started out intending to be reasonable. I firmly believe Christianity is the most logical among beliefs, and I cringe when I hear our faith expressed in unreasonable, extreme ways.
We had a pastor who compared zealous Christians to Peter on the night when the mob arrived at Gethsemane to arrest Jesus, and he hacked off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Peter wielded his sword unwisely. Had Jesus not intervened and healed him, the servant would have had trouble hearing thereafter.
Likewise, Christians tend to wave the Bible—the sword of the Lord—vehemently and “cut off” the ears of their audience. It’s difficult to hear the Gospel after a browbeating.
Rather, I want to follow the advice of the wise Peter, who wrote later, “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).
I composed By Green Pastures to attract readers with sound presentations, to be an oasis where we can refresh ourselves and rejoice in the Lord. God is reasonable, and He calls us to “reason together” with Him (Isaiah 1:18).
I want to give you good reasons to read and to strengthen your faith. I may write something you’ve wanted to say to an acquaintance but didn’t have the words. Let my words be your words.
This is still in my sights, but the Lord recently sharpened the focus when I was reading Psalm 40 and came to verses 9–10.
I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness
In the great assembly;
Indeed, I do not restrain my lips,
O Lord, You Yourself know.
I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth
From the great assembly.
The passage brings into view five of God’s characteristics:
- Righteousness
- Faithfulness
- Salvation
- Lovingkindness, and
- Truth
My heart soared. This is the DNA of By Green Pastures. This is my voice.
Substack hosts a great assembly of readers and writers, and I have strived to emulate the psalmist—to neither restrain nor hide the Gospel.
Others are debating who the Nephilim are in Genesis or supposing where Cain got his wife. Plenty of writers are addressing the decline of our culture and how Christians should respond.
As for me, the Lord sharpened my focus, bringing this portrait of God from Psalm 40 into view. As much as I can, I want the true and living God to be in our sights.
Not a caricature but an accurate portrayal.
And crystal clear.
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