For their sake

Haiku responding to Rom 9:1-5

Apostle Paul speaks

truthfully of the anguish

he feels in his heart.

Paul's conscience confirms

his pain, the Holy Spirit

stirs his deep feelings.

Paul wishes he was

accursed and cut off from Christ,

for his people's sake.

They are Israelites,

the covenants are theirs. Law,

God's promises, too!

Brothers and sisters,

Paul's flesh and blood, are missing 

out on God's promise.

He came, one of them,

according to the flesh; Christ

the Lord over all.

God's plan all along,

says Paul. Oh, that my people

would come, receive it!!

© Ken Rookes 2026

If God is for us

Haiku responding to Rom 8:26-39

The Spirit helps us;

we are weak we do not know

just how we should pray.

Spirit intercedes

with deep groans when words fail us.

God understands groans.

Things work together

for those who love God, who are

called. (But not always!)

We who have been called

are bearers of Christ's image.

We are justified!

If God is for us

there can be none against us.

Who would dare condemn?

In all our suff'rings

we are more than victorious

through him who loved us.

Nothing; death nor life,

rulers, powers, height, depth, can

keep us from God's love.

In all creation,

nothing can part us from God's

love in Christ Jesus.

© Ken Rookes 2026

Abba! Father!

Haiuku responding to Rom 8:12-25

Brothers and sisters,

don't live by the flesh; the flesh

is the way of death.

Live by the Spirit

and put to death sinful deeds;

this way leads to life.

Led by the Spirit

you are made children of God;

free, and without fear.

You've been adopted

by God. Cry Abba! Father!

you are God's children!

If you are children,

then you are also God's heirs;

heirs alongside Christ!

As joint heirs with Christ

you're called to share his suff'ring;

and then his glory.

Present day suff'rings

are nothing when compared with

the coming glory.

Creation's waiting,

yearning; asking, when will God's

children be made known?

Creation's enslaved,

futility reigns; when will

creation be freed?

The whole creation

is groaning, as in labour,

waiting its true birth.

We have the first fruits

of the Spirit, we groan too,

waiting adoption.

In hope we were saved.

Hoping for what is unseen,

we wait with patience.

© Ken Rookes 2025

No Condemnation

Haiku responding to Rom 8:1-11

No condemnation

now for those who are in Christ;

freed through the Spirit.

The Spirit of life

in Christ Jesus sets you free

from the law of death.

God has done what Law,

made weak through damaged flesh, was

unable to do.

God sent his own Son

in the guise of sinful flesh

to straighten out sin.

Law has been sorted

for us. We walk not as flesh,

we live through Spirit.

Those who live by flesh

are focused on flesh; the flesh

is the way of death.

Live by the Spirit!

Think upon the Spirit; this

leads to life and peace.

The mind set on flesh

is hostile to God; such as

these cannot please God.

You are not of flesh.

Since God's Spirit dwells in you

you're in the Spirit.

Without the Spirit

we do not belong to Christ.

But Christ is in you

The body is dead

because of sin; the Spirit

gives life, makes righteous.

God who raised Jesus

from death, gives your bodies life,

gives you his Spirit.

© Ken Rookes 2026

Who will rescue me?

 Haiku responding to Romans 7: 15 - 25

I don't understand

myself, struggle to do good;

I do things I hate.

I struggle under

law, no longer in control.

The sin in me rules.

In my fleshly self

there is no good. I want good

but I can't do it.

I don't do the good;

don't want to do the evil

I end up doing.

I cannot escape

the sin that dwells within me;

as if it's a law.

In my inmost self

I delight in God's law, but

my mind keeps losing.

I am a captive

of the law of sin that dwells

and rules my members.

I feel so wretched!

This body of death grips tight;

who will rescue me?

Yes! It is Jesus

Christ our Lord who rescues me!

I give thanks to God!

© Ken Rookes 2026

God's free gift

Haiku responding to Rom 6:12-23

So don't let sin rule

your bodies. Sinful desires

are to be refused.

Bring yourselves to God

as people who have been brought

from death's realm to life.

Sin has no power

o'er you; you're not under law,

you live under grace.

What then, should we sin

because being under grace,

we're not under law?

You were slaves to sin,

now, through the gospel, you are

slaves to righteousness.

Present your members

as slaves to righteousness, and

become sanctified.

When you were sin's slaves

you produced no useful fruits;

death became your end.

You've been freed from sin;

slaves of God, holy, destined

for eternal life.

Sin's wages are death.

God's free gift is life that's true,

through Jesus, our Lord.

© Ken Rookes 2026

By faith

Haiku responding to Romans 4:13 - 25

Abraham received

God's promise, not through the law;

'twas received by faith.

If the law could bring

God's gift of life, what's the point

of faith? Law brings wrath.

Where there is no law

there is no sin. God's promise

comes through faith alone.

It's all about grace.

To Abraham's descendants

God's promise is made.

I make you father

to many nations, said God

who makes all happen.

'Twas a foolish hope

to be father of nations

at his advanced age.

Nearly a hundred

with a barren wife; still he

hoped, trusting in God.

Growing strong in faith

Abe glorified God, never

wavering in faith.

Abraham trusted

in God; who thus considered

him to be righteous.

So with us; our faith

in God's saving acts through Christ

render us righteous.

© Ken Rookes 2026 

Alive in Christ

Haiku responding to Romans 6: 1-11

What then shall we say?

Shall we continue to sin

so that grace may grow?

That would be stupid!

How can we who died to sin

keep living in it?

Don't you grasp the fact:

being baptised into Christ,

we share in his death?

We're buried with Christ

through baptism; just as he

was raised, we are too.

We share his new life.

Joined into his death, we'll join

in his risen life.

Our old selves are dead,

including our sinfulness;

we're set free from sin.

If we died with Christ

we will also live with him;

death has lost its hold!

Consider yourselves

dead to sin, and made alive

to God through Jesus.

© Ken Rookes 2026

God has proved his love

Haiku responding to Romans 5: 1-8

Justified by faith

means that we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus.

Jesus makes the grace

happen; this grace surrounds us,

we boast in our hope.

We are also proud

of our afflictions, knowing

they bring endurance.

Endurance leads to

character, then on to hope;

we boast in our hope!

God's love has been poured

into our hearts through God's gift:

the Holy Spirit.

While we were helpless,

when the time was right, Christ died

for those without God.

We don't give up life

cheaply: perhaps for a good

person, one might die.

God has proved his love.

While we were lost in our sin

the Christ died for us.

© Ken Rookes 2026

Finally, sisters and brothers . . .

Haiku responding to 2 Cor. 13:11-13

Paul the apostle

is signing-off his missive;

bids his friends, farewell.

Let your common life

be filled with healing and peace.

Be in agreement.

Try to live in peace,

and the God of love and peace

will be found with you.

Greet one another

with a holy kiss; do so

on behalf of us.

Grace from Jesus, love

from God, the Spirit's friendship,

fill all of your life.

© Ken Rookes 2026

One body

Haiku responding to 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13

When we say Jesus

is Lord, it's by the Spirit;

God's Spirit in us.

The Spirit gives gifts

to us all; they are many,

they are different.

Many ways to serve;

the same Lord is served. The same

God calls us to serve.

Ev'ry gift we have

comes from the Holy Spirit,

for the common good.

To the one, wisdom;

to others, knowledge, to yet

another, healing.

To some faith, deeds of

power, prophetic speaking,

spiritual judgement.

To one, various

languages, and to others,

interpretation.

Each various gift

comes from the Spirit, chosen

by that same Spirit.

Human bodies with

many members are still one

body: so with Christ.

Baptised into Christ;

Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free,

one in the Spirit.

© Ken Rookes 2026

Be steadfast

Haiku responding to 1 Pt 4:12-14, 5:6-11

There's some heavy stuff

going down; it will test you,

this fiery ordeal.

Rejoice as you share

Christ's sufferings, you'll then be glad

to see his glory.

If you are reviled

for Christ's sake, you'll be blessed; God's

Spirit rests on you.

Be humble, trust God.

When the right time has arrived

you'll be exalted.

Do you feel worried?

Bring all your anxieties

to your God who cares.

Discipline yourselves,

be alert. Confront evil,

be steadfast in faith.

Sisters and brothers

all around the world, suffer

because of their faith.

You suffer for now;

the God of grace will restore

you and make you strong.

© Ken Rookes 2026

Of course!

 Of course!

Blessed, he said, are the peacemakers;

we'll call them God's children.

And the ones who show mercy, kindness;

they will receive mercy.

Sell everything, give it to the poor.

And while you're there, bring them to the banquet.

Seven is never enough;

you must forgive seventy-seven times.

Blessed are the meek,

the earth belongs to them.

Again he spoke.

It's like a mustard seed

growing large to provide a home.

No, I won't condemn you. Go;

turn your life around.

Love.

Each other, your neighbours;

your enemies, too.

Put your sword away.

Swords are for those who are perishing.

You are to be servants.

He told them: I didn't come for the good guys;

I came for the others.

Rich people? They probably won't make it.

Sad, but it will be their choice.

You are forgiven.

Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.

They turned up late. It's OK.

Pay them the full wage, anyway.

Yes, we all know he messed up big-time;

he still belongs. Don't stay outside;

join the party, give him a hug.

Of course it hurts; Heaps!

Don't hold it against them.

Jesus. The woke leftie.

Try not to be offended.

Ken Rookes 2026

Christ also suffered

Haiku responding to 1 Pt 3:13-22

Can anyone harm

you if you eagerly do

those things that are good?

But if you suffer

for doing what is right, you

are blessed. Do not fear.

Live out Christ's lordship,

being always ready to

account for your hope.

Speak with gentleness,

keep your conscience clear; then none

can abuse your name.

Better to suffer

for good deeds than for evil.

God will be with you.

Christ also suffered;

the righteous for unrighteous,

bringing us to God.

He died in the flesh,

came alive in the spirit,

proclaimed hope for all.

Only eight were saved

by the ark through the waters;

baptism saves all.

It's not the cleansing

that saves; Christ's resurrection

achieves God's favour.

© Ken Rookes 2026 

Cornerstone

Haiku responding to 1 Pt 2:2-10

You've been born anew.

Like infants, seek spiritual

milk that comes from God.

You know God is good.

You've tasted God's love, grow now

into salvation.

Jesus, the living

stone, rejected by mortals,

precious in God's sight.

You are living stones,

come, be built with him into

a spiritual house.

Scriptures say that God

lays a cornerstone for us;

we are to trust him.

Those who don't believe

stumble on the cornerstone,

disobey God's word.

You're chosen people,

a royal priesthood, holy,

called to be God's own.

Proclaim God's mighty

acts; God calls you from darkness

into wondrous light.

Once you were nothing,

now you are God's people; now

you know God's mercy.

© Ken Rookes 2026

For this you have been called

Haiku responding to 1 Pt 2:19-25

Being God aware,

you do well to endure pain,

unjust suffering.

If you endure when

you suffer for doing right,

God approves of you.

We're called to follow

Christ who also suffered; He

is your example.

Jesus did not sin,

he spoke truth; he was abused

but returned it not.

Christ trusted in God,

knowing that God is a judge

who is always just.

He carried our sins

in his body, opening

our way to healing.

Like sheep we had strayed,

now the shepherd welcomes us

back, and guards our souls.

© Ken Rookes 2026

Betraying

 

Christianity

betraying Jesus; cheering

on killings and war.

Ken Rookes 2026

More than sacrifice

 Haiku responding to 1 Pt 1:17-23

Parent God judges

all according to their deeds;

live accordingly.

Ransom metaphor.

Not all that helpful today;

to whom was it paid?

Sacrifices made

for sin. An ancient concept;

do we still need it?

More than sacrifice,

Jesus' bloody death speaks love,

costly and giving.

Before ev'rything,

God's plan for us was life, full

and true, through Jesus

Through him we trust God

who raised Jesus from the dead,

and find faith and hope.

Obeying the truth

our souls have been purified;

and we're joined in love.

© Ken Rookes 2026