It seems this poem does resonate beyond Australia’s borders. I hear a quiet whisper among concerned parents like myself, but few step up to say much.
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Thank you, Steve Austin. You’ll be fiercely missed.
My heart has been heavy the last 24 hours after hearing the news of Steve Austin passing away. Like so many around the world would say, we never met in person, but his character and…
A poem for Pentecost
25 years ago I was born again into a tradition where speaking in other tongues was taught in a hyper-personal context. Reading Acts Chapter 2 again this year over Pentecost, I came to see a…
Interview with John McDonald in Scotland – Poetry as the language of the heart
I chat with poet David Tensen about his inspirations, broken times, when trite faith answers don’t add up and wounded heroes. We speak about recovery from burnout, the need to be a rescuer and how…
PODCAST INTERVIEW – Rethinking God with Tacos. May ’21
I loved spending time with @jasonclarkis and @pastorderekt on their Rethinking God with Tacos Podcast last week. Extract from their webpage:Trauma, pain, empathy like Jesus, and healing for the oppressed, misunderstood, lost, or broken; in this podcast David Tensen…
Have best-selling poet David Tensen write you a poem. Custom commission poetry.
Do you have an upcoming personal occasion or commercial event* you’d like to make extra special with something unique and beautiful? Have best-selling poet David Tensen write you a poem. David will write a one…
Sex, Sexuality and the Scapegoated
My latest book contains a couple of poems around the topic of sexuality. I wrote them for those who messaged me with tragic stories of sexual abuse by church workers and community ostracisation due to…
So I Wrote You A Poem – poems on loss, grief and faith. 2021 Special Collection Book
This poetry collection is truly unique. Written over 21 days combining anonymous stories from over 60 people who wrote to David on Instagram in January 2021. Available worldwide in softcover and eBook. Release date April…
Deconstruction is not a dirty word. It’s necessary.
The deconstruction of a person’s faith seems to have gained popularity over the past few years. From my view, increasingly more podcasts, books, courses and articles seem to be made and released every year. Heck,…
Pastors Under Pressure – the hidden complexities most don’t see.
I thought it was normal. But it wasn’t. That afternoon, when the organiser called to thank me for speaking at a breakfast for the 20 local pastors, he confirmed that robust rebuttal and tearful confession…
I wrote random poems by request for 21 days straight. This is what I learnt.
Background: 3 weeks ago I put a call out on Instagram for followers to send me any stories they would like me to put into poetry. I wasn’t sure what to expect. Within days, my…
For the divorced ones
You said I doand you didn’tintend for it to endthe way that it did. God knows. And God knows how much it takesto hold beautiful and brokenpeople together.More than you know. And more than you…
Dear ACOA – A poem for those who grew up in homes with an alcoholic parent
It’s a four letter wordand it’s not kindor love, or hope.The word that best describesgrowing up withan alcoholic parentis shit. And it lingers for years.Stalking you into adulthood.Smearing itself on the edgeof broken promisesmaking reality…
David’s interview with Jonathan Puddle on the Puddcast
I had a blast getting to know Jonathan Puddle during this interview. We spoke for a couple of hours and he cut the chat into this lovely 50min podcast. We chatted all things upbringing, inner…
For the pastor who nearly died by suicide. a poem
Last week I put out a call out on Instagram that if anyone had a story they’d like turned into poetry, I’d try write one. A good number of stories came through. Most of them…
Feeding God. A Christmas poem. (English, Spanish, German)
Do you like this poem? You may really like David’s 2020 poetry collection, The Wrestle. Find it here in all it’s formats
When silence is safer. Could a lack of Psychological Safety in our churches be a serious problem?
“Confess your sins one to another, pray that no one discloses your concern, and you will keep your title.” James 5:16 MDCV (Modern Dysfunctional Church Version) OK, that is a bit of a stretch from…
Could the failings and fallings of church leaders be systemic? Send reform, quick.
So, how many pastors do you know that must get regular professional supervision? I don’t mean coffee and golf with pastor mates. I mean serious, confidential, professional, one-on-one, monthly time with a trained supervisor who has no skin in the game but to make space and ask the right questions?