The advanced copy arrived!! I’m really excited to share the first looks at the new poetry anthology! You’re going to love it!! Poems by me and @poetrychapel collective poets. Out mid June.Details for preorder and book launch team on its way soon!ISBN : 9780648989363 Pre-order here: https://davidtensen.com/product-category/winters-never-last-poetry-book/
Category: All
What Makes A Workplace Fair? Understanding the power of Organisational Justice.
2022 has been a tumultuous year. Living expenses have increased. Lockdowns have stopped. Financial markets have fluctuated. Unpredictability has become the norm. As a result, millions of people worldwide have made major work-life changes and the marketplace has been forced to adapt to rapid change. Unemployment rates in Australia are at an all time low. Some have coined… Continue reading What Makes A Workplace Fair? Understanding the power of Organisational Justice.
A LACK OF ELDERS. How we desperately need to grow up.
This was the alarming start of a recent conversation.“Is it just me, or are older guys willing to be mentors really hard to find?”“Yep.” I replied, “At this age and stage of life, they are harder to find.” Let’s call this questioner Mark. Mark is just a few years younger than me. Mark is smart,… Continue reading A LACK OF ELDERS. How we desperately need to grow up.
AS MY BOYS BECOME MEN. The damaging effects of The Man Box and why I am parenting the hell out of it.
I have two sons aged 12 and 14. As with most siblings their personalities are very different. My eldest well into a season where hormones are messing with his IQ, sleep and sensibility. Peers are becoming his leading influence. This isn’t new or alarming. It’s normal, expected and important. We now as they grow, our… Continue reading AS MY BOYS BECOME MEN. The damaging effects of The Man Box and why I am parenting the hell out of it.
REGRETTING WHAT I BELIEVED – The trap of Narrative Fallacy and the shame it brings.
It is almost a decade since I went into voluntary bankruptcy. In 2006 Natalie and I had sold up and sold out to do missions work in Japan. We returned in 2008 with our second child due . As it happened, we landed back in Australia on the doorstep of the Global Financial Crisis, rental… Continue reading REGRETTING WHAT I BELIEVED – The trap of Narrative Fallacy and the shame it brings.
The Rhythm of Your Day
My father cleaned offices weeknights.My mother took the weekend night shifts, as a nurse.My wife is a night owl. My teen kids too.I’m happy to get up when it’s early.I write best when the dawn breaks.That quiet morning fridge hum is the perfect companion to the scratch of my pencil and clacking keys. I heard… Continue reading The Rhythm of Your Day
My take on the five-fold ministry – Moving beyond gifts and titles into virtuous maturity.
I don’t recall sharing this perspective on my thoughts around Ephesians 4:9-16 publicly. Partly because, when I developed it in 2017 I was travelling among several church circles which held a more exclusive view of who might be called an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher (AKA five-fold ministry) and I didn’t want to rock… Continue reading My take on the five-fold ministry – Moving beyond gifts and titles into virtuous maturity.
So how should a Pastor behave? The problem with unexamined expectations and mythology.
It was a simple workshop exercise; write down one word or more that describes how a Church Pastor should behave. The 100+ counsellors and pastors attending the webinar hit their keyboards and the chat stream filled up faster than you could say ecclesiastical theology. There were literally hundreds of expectations listed. Several overlapping like, ‘kind’,… Continue reading So how should a Pastor behave? The problem with unexamined expectations and mythology.
Long Goodbyes – a poem about dementia
Fading like the day.Life had been kind to mother’s bodybut not her memory. Mother called her by many names;Alice, Betty, Corrine,as if to scour the alphabet –but never guessing beyond E. She didn’t mind though.She knew her mother’s bodyremembered herby the way she would standupon arrival;both arms open in a Vas if to catch herfrom… Continue reading Long Goodbyes – a poem about dementia
MOUNTAINS OF SKILL AND THE SHAME BINDS US.
Our brain is hardwired to look for paths of least resistance – it loves to conserve energy and help us survive and thrive. This is why learning new things can be overwhelming. Writing a book may be daunting. Starting a new job may be tiring. Moving cities can be scary. New relationships can be too… Continue reading MOUNTAINS OF SKILL AND THE SHAME BINDS US.
When it doesn’t feel authentic, try it anyway.
There is an emerging area of leadership practice and theory called Authentic Leadership. If you’ve studied leadership principles for a while you’ll know they are often relabelled (and repriced) social science theories. After all, leadership is grounded in social interaction. Authentic Leadership is no exception. At its core, Authentic Leadership explores a central question many… Continue reading When it doesn’t feel authentic, try it anyway.
If You Must – a poem and thoughts beyond deconstruction
If you must,deconstruct. Take every part;weigh, measure,keep and discardnecessary things. Take all the timeyou need. Butdo not campin the ruins. Discuss discoveriesbutdo not raise monumentsto your brilliance –brave as you may be. Instead,in time.build something new.Take the remains,sorrows and pains,new friends you’ve gainedand build something new;allowingthe wise fewto remind youthere is a timeto break downand… Continue reading If You Must – a poem and thoughts beyond deconstruction
Call Me a Girl – a poem and reflection on the Man Box
If crying in the presenceof loss or beautybreaks the mouldyou squeeze yourselfand all men into,call me a girl. If expressing my inner worldthrough movement, music,art and poetrymakes you squirm’cause that stuff’s dumb’,call me girl. If defending the weakinstead of dominating themlike your insecurity demandsmakes me weak too,call me a girl. If simply being medoesn’t fit… Continue reading Call Me a Girl – a poem and reflection on the Man Box
The Incarnation – a Christmas poem
Take all your hope and longing;cover it in blood, urine, faeces, straw.Cut the chord to your dreamswith a field knife or clenched jaw. Here lays the King of the Jews.Crowned between thighs,Held in arms of exhaustion.Bathed with tears, sweatand the soft tonesof a mothersinging songsof deliverancebetween breathsas the King of Gloryfeeds folded at her breast.… Continue reading The Incarnation – a Christmas poem
Inadequate Men
Do I ever feel inadequate as a man, as a father, as a husband, as an employee, as a son, a brother, a friend, a Christian? Abso-freaking-lutely! Why? Because every role and title I hold carries list of expectations. And these expectations are fuelled by internally adopted measures along with all those everyday life places… Continue reading Inadequate Men
Hope – A poem for Advent Sunday #1.
The longing for lost thingsbegins as you do. Your mother was more mobilebefore you filled her belly.She lost her balancealong with sleepand shapeand random acts of selfishness. It’s strange;even thoughwe breathe lossinto our forming lungsbefore air enables a scream,the falling tide of lifeonly seems to remind uswe were made for more than this. Perhaps this… Continue reading Hope – A poem for Advent Sunday #1.
Are we suffering with collective moral trauma?
There is an interrogative technique often used in psychology and business called The 5 Whys. The technique is simple. You ask a question and then ask ‘Why?’ five times. It’s a remarkably simple technique which really causes the statement-holder to get to root of their reasoning. (Either that, or they shout, ‘What are you, three… Continue reading Are we suffering with collective moral trauma?
BLEEDING FROM THE PULPIT. Uncovering the suffering of Church Workers and their families.
A few years back I heard a story of a family who were serving in a regional church community as Pastors. The husband was doing much of the work but, as we know, expectations always extend to the Pastor’s family, so his wife and two teenage children were also carrying the load of ministry life. … Continue reading BLEEDING FROM THE PULPIT. Uncovering the suffering of Church Workers and their families.
Sneak Peek! New Poetry Collection
This is the cheeky post before the official launch date post but I can’t wait to share this with you. This new poetry collection was written and published with a number of emerging poets. And I must say, it is simply beautiful. If you are a physical copy lover, it’s available for pre-order here. In… Continue reading Sneak Peek! New Poetry Collection
Reducing Church-based Trauma. Should we start with the Ministry Workers?
In 2011, researcher Marlene Winell coined the phrase Religious Trauma Syndrome (RTS) in an effort to define the set of symptoms found in those who ‘participated in or left behind authoritarian, dogmatic, and controlling religious groups and belief systems.’ Symptoms in those suffering with RTS range in severity. Areas of the person’s psychological response effected… Continue reading Reducing Church-based Trauma. Should we start with the Ministry Workers?