by David Tensen | 4 Apr, 2022 | All, Church -, Poetry
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,... 
by David Tensen | 28 Mar, 2022 | All, Church -, Poetry
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.... 
by David Tensen | 18 Mar, 2022 | All, Poetry
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... 
by David Tensen | 17 Mar, 2022 | All, business
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... 
by David Tensen | 9 Mar, 2022 | All, business, Church -, leadership, parenting
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... 
by David Tensen | 16 Jan, 2022 | All, Poetry
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... 
by David Tensen | 4 Jan, 2022 | All, Poetry
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... 
by David Tensen | 23 Dec, 2021 | All, Poetry
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... 
by David Tensen | 17 Dec, 2021 | All
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... 
by David Tensen | 29 Nov, 2021 | All, Poetry
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... 
by David Tensen | 12 Nov, 2021 | All, business, General News
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... 
by David Tensen | 15 Oct, 2021 | All, Church -
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... 
by David Tensen | 14 Oct, 2021 | All, Poetry
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,... 
by David Tensen | 5 Oct, 2021 | All, Church -
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... 
by David Tensen | 2 Oct, 2021 | All, Church -
A few months ago, Natalie and I came home from a day at our respective workplaces and we’d each been asked the same question, “Where do you guys go to church?” I’ve asked it of others many times. Depending on their answer, you make assumptions.... 
by David Tensen | 21 Sep, 2021 | All
DESCRIPTION Drawing upon decades of life experience and academic research, David Tensen returns to present an interactive 3 hour workshop. Previously, this workshop was presented to therapists and industry experts. This workshop will be open to... 
by David Tensen | 13 Sep, 2021 | All, Poetry
A woman’s body is not yours, son.And yours not hers.Never forget, she’s not yours to possess. Before you hold her to your hip,hold her in your heart, son in love. in adoration. in mutual respect. A woman is not a goal to... 
by David Tensen | 18 Aug, 2021 | All
My recent poetic response on Facebook to some local graffiti sparked an avalanche of comments, PMs and discussions with colleagues. Some of the pushback was not as vicious as I received from a post I published a few years ago in support of my daughter’s... 
by David Tensen | 21 Jun, 2021 | All, Poetry
Perhaps this is you?! I’m looking for people interested in being part of a poetry and publishing collective. Here is what I have in mind, if it sounds a bit vague, it’s because I’m creating something I’ve not seen before. If the following... 
by David Tensen | 15 Jun, 2021 | All, Poetry, poetry tiles to share
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. 