We thank God for you

Haiku responding to 1 Thes 1:1-10

Paul and his comrades

send greetings to the church in

Thessalonika.

Grace to you, and peace,

from God the Father, and from

the Lord Jesus Christ.

We thank God for you,

sisters and brothers, knowing

how you grow in faith.

We hear of the love

you share; we make boast of it

among the churches.

We boast of your faith

knowing the persecutions

you are enduring.

You are judged righteous,

worthy of God's kingdom, for

which you have suffered.

Those who afflict you

will be repaid by God, leave

the vengeance to God.

They will be punished,

cut off from God's presence, when

Jesus is revealed.

Eschatology.

Straight forward in Paul's thinking;

we're left wondering.

© Ken Rookes 2026

Love fulfils the law

Haiku responding to Rom 13:8-14

Be in debt to none

except to love each other;

love fulfils the law.

Respect marriage, don't

steal, murder or covet; laws

are covered by love.

Love will do no wrong

to a neighbour, therefore love

fulfils all the law.

The time has now come;

it's time that we all woke up,

salvation draws near!

The night's been dismissed,

the day's near; throw off dark works,

put on light's armour.

Walk in the light; steer

clear of drunkenness, cheap sex,

quarrels, jealousy.

Cloth yourself in Christ;

you won't need to gratify

your fleshly desires.

But let's end with love,

where we started. Get that right

and all else follows.

© Ken Rookes 2026

Love must be real

Haiku responding to Rom 12:9-21

Love must be real.

Hate the things that are evil,

hold fast to the good.

Love one another.

Compete with each other in

acting with honour.

Don't lag in zeal,

let your spirit be ardent

as you serve the Lord.

Rejoice as you hope,

be patient in affliction,

don't give up on prayer.

Support each other

financially; show strangers

hospitality.

When people oppress,

offer blessings. Yes, bless them,

and do not curse them!

When people rejoice,

rejoice with them, when they weep,

join your tears with theirs.

Live in harmony.

Try not to be arrogant;

mix with the lowly.

Don't repay evil

with evil. Act nobly, be

a good example.

If it's possible,

as it depends on you, live

peaceably with all.

Do not seek revenge;

vengeance is the Lord's concern.

Let God sort it out.

If your enemies

are hungry, feed them; if they

thirst, give them a drink.

Don't be overcome

by evil. Rather, defeat

it by doing good.

© 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

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

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

What is required

 

Haiku for Easter

 

Once you were darkness

Haiku responding to Eph 5:8-14

Once you were darkness,

now, in the Lord, you are light.

Live as Light's children.

For the fruits of Light

are all around; in those things

good and right and true.

Live to discover

that which is full of love, and

pleasing to the Lord.

Shun works of darkness;

they are not fruitful; rather,

bring them to the light.

Expose them to light!

Illuminate shameful works

that they be transformed.

Wake up you sleepers!

When you rise up from the dead

Christ will shine on you.

© Ken Rookes 2026

Worthy of God's call

Haiku responding to 2 Thes 1:1-4, 11-12

They write to the church

at Thessaloniki; Paul,

Silas, Timothy.

A greeting of peace

and grace; reflecting their love,

expressing their thanks.

They commend the faith

growing abundantly, at

Thessaloniki.

The love grows, too;

source of wonder and delight.

The writers take pride.

They boast of the love

and steadfast faith in the face

of persecutions.

We pray that God will

empower you, and make you

worthy of God's call.

May you bring glory

to Jesus' name, according

to the grace of God!

© Ken Rookes 2025

Love, Power, self-control

 

Haiku responding to 2 Tim 1:1-14

The writer opens:

Timothy, beloved child,

Grace, mercy and peace.

The letter proceeds:

I give thanks to God for you;

praying night and day.

Recalling your tears,

I long to see you, that I

may be filled with joy!

Profound faith, learned from

your mother and grandmother

lives strongly in you.

Rekindle the gift

that you received from God, when

hands were laid on you.

God did not give us

a spirit of fear, but love

power, self control.

Join me in suff'ring

for the gospel; trust in God,

the power God gives.

God's power saves us,

our calling is holy, we're

saved by grace, not works.

Grace was always here,

is now revealed in Jesus

through the gospel's light.

Suff'ring for Christ's sake

brings no shame. I put my trust

in him; he guards me.

I taught you soundly,

hold to that standard; in faith,

love, through the Spirit.

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

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

Let's not grow weary

Responding to Galations 6:1-16

Haiku for doing good

Seek restoration

of one who has fallen short;

be gentle with them.

Shoulder the burdens

of your sisters and brothers;

so fulfil love's law.

Assess your own work

honestly; comparisons

only lead to pride.

Sow to the Spirit

and that is where you shall reap,

life that's eternal.

Let's not grow weary

in standing for what is right.

We must not give up.

When chance comes your way

do good for all; specially

the fam'ly of faith.

Boast in Jesus' cross,

not in earthly signs; turn from

the grasp of the world

Take no notice of

physical signs; what matters

is new life in Christ.

If you get this right

you will be blessed with God's peace;

you'll be a blessing.

© Ken Rookes 2025

For freedom

 

Reflecting on Galations 5:1, 13-25

Haiku of life

That we might be free;

so Christ has set us free. Stand

firm; don't let it go.

Freedom's not doing

what you want; it is about

loving and serving.

All law is summed up

in the one commandment: love

neighbour as yourself.

The things you desire

are of flesh, not the Spirit.

The Spirit gives life.

All the bad stuff; strife,

envy, quarrels, drunkenness,

don't lead you to God.

Live in the Spirit;

you'll bear fruits of love, joy, peace,

patience and kindness.

Generosity,

faithfulness, self-control, these

go beyond mere law.

You belong to Christ.

The flesh must not hold you, let

the Spirit guide you.

© Ken Rookes 2025

Under attack

Christianity is under attack! they cry.

I respond inwardly, keeping my thoughts to myself.

Good! It has been ever so,

or at least, it should have been.

I will join in the attack,

there is so much that denies the kingdom,

so much that despises the words

that we declare came from the carpenter’s lips.

He was up-front with his followers,

told how he would suffer, be put to death

for the words he spoke, the things he did.

Said they could expect the same.

We are frightened

watching with alarm as the privileges of our glorious past

are challenged and slowly stripped away.

This cannot be God’s will! Surely this is not right!

But, perhaps it is right;

maybe it is God’s will. When all else is removed;

when what remains of Christianity

is love, bleeding and incarnate,

then we might be said to have arrived

at the gates of the kingdom,

and we should have cause to rejoice.

Ken Rookes 2024