It's all about grace

Haiku responding to 1 Timothy 1:12-17

It's all about grace.

The writer shows gratitude

for new life in Christ.

Listing his failures,

which are many, the writer

expresses wonder.

He called me to serve;

I, who had blasphemed, a man

of violence. What grace!

The grace of our Lord

overflowed for me, pouring

out Christ's faith and love.

The saying is sure:

Christ Jesus came among us

to save the sinful.

First among sinners,

I received mercy, showing

the patience of Christ.

If I can receive,

by faith, Christ's eternal life,

so can anyone!

To the ageless King

immortal, be honour and

glory, forever!

© Ken Rookes 2025

How we should live

 

Haiku responding to Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Continue to build

affection for each other,

as Christ commanded.

Be hospitable

to strangers; you may find you've

entertained angels.

Don't forget prisoners.

Imagine if it were you

in prison with them.

Those being tortured;

remember them, support them,

grateful it's not you.

Honour marriages;

don't cheat. God will judge the ones

who defile marriage.

Try to be content

with what God has given you.

Don't worship money.

God is your helper;

there is nothing to fear. What

can be done to you?

Imitate the faith

of those who brought you God's word.

Look at how they live.

He is constant; same

yesterday, today, always.

Jesus Christ, our Lord.

© Ken Rookes 2025

This great cloud

 

Haiku responding to Hebrews 11:29-12:2

They trusted in God,

all those heroes of the past.

God rewarded them.

Slaves and freed people,

prostitutes, judges, prophets,

kings; all trusted God.

By faith they achieved

great things; they conquered, they ruled,

they became mighty.

Others who had faith

suffered in various ways,

some were put to death.

We commend their faith,

they await their reward; God

fulfils them in Christ.

They're surrounding us;

this great cloud of witnesses.

They're urging us on!

Let us lay aside

all that holds us back, complete

the race before us.

We must persevere,

like Jesus; God's pioneer,

perfecter of faith.

We look to Jesus;

cross and shame deterred him not,

sits at God's right hand.

© Ken Rookes 2025.

By faith

Haiku responding to

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Faith: the assurance

of things hoped for, conviction

of the things not seen.

By faith God's purpose

is made real; the unseen things

are made visible.

Abraham had faith;

when God called, he headed off

towards the unknown.

Trusting God's promise,

Abraham pressed on towards

God's builded city.

In the promised land,

living in tents, they trusted

God's promise would hold.

By faith, the ageing

pair conceived. A son was born,

succession secured.

Numbered as the stars

and seaside sand, Abraham

and Sarah's offspring.

These all died before

the promises were fulfilled;

watched from a distance.

They did not look back,

but faithfully reached towards

God's promised future.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Letters to encourage

Haiku responding to Colossians 1:1-14

Paul, the apostle

writes letters to encourage,

building up the saints.

Grace to you, and peace

from God the Father. We can

almost feel the smile.

Celebrating faith,

affirming the people's love,

along with their hope.

You received the word

of truth, the gospel of life;

it is bearing fruit.

The gospel bore fruit

among you, from the first day

you heard of its grace.

We heard of your love

and keep praying for you, that

you will know wisdom.

May you be made strong,

filled with power, enduring

with patience and joy.

The darkness power

is dismissed, we're living in

the kingdom of Christ.

The inheritance

of the saints is light. It's yours;

live in light's kingdom.

© Ken Rookes 2025

The Gentiles have come to faith

 Responding to Acts 11:1-18

Haiku of new insights

No way! The Gentiles

have come to faith! Was that in

our mission statement?

What goes on, Peter?

Eating with Gentiles? You know

they're uncircumcised!

It's like this, said Pete.

I had a vision; a sheet

of unclean creatures.

A voice spoke to me:

Get up and eat! No way, Lord,

I don't eat unclean.

The voice spoke again:

If I say it's clean, it's clean!

Now do what I say.

It happened three times;

leaving me perplexed, not sure

as to its meaning.

Just then, three men came.

Go with them, said the Spirit.

Thought we'd better go.

The house was Gentile,

but that no longer mattered.

We went inside, preached.

The uncircumcised

heard the gospel and believed;

we didn't plan it!

The Holy Spirit

fell on them, just like on us;

so we baptised them.

The penny has dropped:

God's salvation is for all,

both Jew and Gentile.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Stephen

Haiku for a faithful witness

Not one of the twelve,

but most powerfully kissed

by Holy Spirit.

He had angered them

with his account of God’s plan,

fulfilled in Jesus.

A final vision

of God’s glory, with Jesus

there, at God’s right hand.

Ah, such recklessness!

Could have kept it to himself,

instead he spoke up.

Greatly offended,

they dragged him beyond the walls

let fly with the rocks.

The mob dealt with him,

leaving their cloaks in the care

of the youthful Saul.

Receive my spirit!

brave Stephen cried as he died.

And forgive them, Lord.

Gentle man of faith,

Stephen follows his master,

living out his words.

© Ken Rookes 2023

 

Therefore

Haiku of faith

Justified by faith!

The Reformation catch-cry.

Thank-you M. Luther!

Works won’t get you there.

But works of love must follow

the great work of grace.

We enter the realm

of grace through Jesus the Christ,

finding peace with God.

Discipleship brings

suffering. We endure it;

we grow and we hope.

Not wealth or blessings,

but sufferings. Boast in these;

they show you’re from God.

Endurance and hope

stem from love, poured into hearts

by the Holy Ghost.

© Ken Rookes 2022

The greatest is love

Essential haiku

Hard to imagine

a world where love is vanquished

and fear goes unchecked.

If I have not love

then I am nothing, worthless

just a fading sound

I may understand

mysteries; if I lack love

I’m less than a breath.

Patient, kind, trusting

the good intent of others;

love is this, and more.

Love delights in truth,

bears all, hopes, does not insist;

and never gives up.

Prophecies will cease,

tongues and knowledge, too, will end.

Love goes on and on.

So much is partial;

when all things are made complete

so, too, will knowledge.

Behave like adults,

put an end to childish ways;

be guided by love.

There remain three things

without compare: faith, hope, love.

The greatest is love.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Posted in response to the Narrative Lectionary, 1 Corinthians 13, for the sixth Sunday in Easter.

The purpose

Haiku of peace

John does it better!

His Jesus comes through locked doors.

Well, why shouldn't he?

Imparting Spirit,

Jesus ensures the mission

goes on without him.

Make forgiveness real,

so that all folk are made free,

capable of love.

No room for doubting!

Even Thomas is sorted,

leaving me alone.

Doubt is not opposed

to Faith; that’s the role of Fear.

Doubt and Faith are friends.

My Lord and my God!

Hey, followers of Jesus,

get on with the task!

The book is written,

John asserts, to convince us;

so that we might live.

© Ken Rookes 2020

Justice and Faith

Haiku for grabbing hold

Another story

from the story-telling man;

and more surprises.

The judge didn’t care

about the law, or people,

or what God wanted.

The judge was corrupt;

if you had enough money

you’d get your verdict.

She is a widow,

pestering, seeking justice;

the judge refuses.

She doesn’t give up,

keeps on with her bothering.

until he gives in.

She achieved justice,

grabbed it tight, not letting go.

God is easier.

Belonging to God,

day and night they are crying

for help, and it comes!

Justice is God’s work.

God’s people can be assured

it will be granted.

Justice and faith,

these two, beloved of God,

shaping God’s people.

© Ken Rookes 2019

On the edges

Haiku of inclusion

On the edges of

Samaria, Galilee,

where nobody goes.

North of Jerus’lem

Jesus meets with outcast men,

unclean, unwanted.

Ten lepers approached.

Keeping their distance they cried,

Have mercy, Master!

Go and show yourselves,

to the priests; they will confirm

that you are made clean.

As they make their way

their skin becomes clean and new.

One man turns around.

The Samaritan

falls rejoicing at his feet.

Jesus, I thank you.

Were not ten made clean?

One, alone, comes praising God;

a Samaritan!

Another surprise;

the foreigner commended

as a man of faith.

© Ken Rookes 2019

One and three.

Grappling haiku

They call it myst’ry

this trinity thing, holding

concepts in tension.

After all these years

I still don’t really get it.

I don’t think God minds.

Think how Parent God,

with Jesus and the Spirit,

strangely coalesce.

One God, three persons,

traditional formula:

all else heresy!

Does our imagined

God monitor errant thoughts;

scoring our faith?

Perhaps I also

am heretic. Woe is me!

Or does it matter?

The truth that matters:

God somehow strangely present

in our loving deeds.

O Holy Spirit,

Divine Parent and His Son,

let me live in you.

© Ken Rookes 2019

Struggling to believe

Haiku for faithful doubters

Thomas, called the Twin,

wasn't there with the others,

struggled to believe.

The resurrection;

life constructed out of death,

the seed bursting forth.

Jesus reaches out,

speaks words of acceptance, life;

inviting us all.

Thank you, friend Thomas,

for your precious gifts to us,

your doubts and struggles.

Jesus shows us faith,

Thomas teaches honest doubt.

We need both of them.

Embrace your questions.

Faith is not opposed by doubt;

no, but by fear.

© Ken Rookes 2017

Haiku for Advent

Christian faith is an
unexpected weed growing
in a polite field.


© Ken Rookes 2016

Mulberry tree messiness

Haiku of insecure faith

Lord, increase our faith.

Why do you make this request?

You have all you need.

A mustard seed faith

would see you directing trees

and they would obey!

What a metaphor

for faith that is sufficient;

the uprooted tree!

Hail mulberry tree!

Generous red stickiness

and messy fingers.

You have faith enough

to tread discipleship's path;

put it to good use.

Being uprooted,

with red mulberry tree faith

and sticky fingers.

© Ken Rookes 2016

Proof

Proof

The previously-dead Jesus meets with Thomas

and invites his sceptical friend

to extend his hand,

to touch his master's injured hands and side.

This, according to gospel-writer John,

is the incontrovertible proof

that his Lord lives.

We find it less convincing.

Nor do the various reported signs work for us

in quite the same way that they did for the evangelist.

What evidence, then,

might persuade you and I that our Lord lives?

The generous acts of his followers? Perhaps.

Loving deeds of disciples? Maybe.

Lives spent courageously for the sake of justice, hope,

and the gospel? Yes,

such as these could be sufficient

to satisfy the rest of us sceptics.

©Ken Rookes 2016

Don't tell anyone

Keep it to yourself, this encounter;

this meeting with a miracle.
He who unstopped your ears
and loosed your tongue,
now directs you to tell no one.
 
Right!
Hey there, friend!
How come you can now hear and speak
when you couldn’t yesterday?
What do you mean, you can’t tell me?
 
It was never going to happen.
You’ll just have to make the best of it, Jesus.
The excited crowds, the adulation,
expectations and demands;
they come with the job.
 
The job also seems to generate
a growing pack of fierce opponents,
baying from fear,
and anxious;
lest their comfortable world be inverted.
 
Your adversaries are right to be concerned.
Should they dare to listen, it might be
that these, too, will be required to consider
the demands of love;
and do something about them.
 
Don’t tell anyone.
 

 

© Ken Rookes 2015.