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

A song of love

Haiku for Spring

Springtime rhapsody,

the name of this love poem

here, in my bible.

Look! A young stag bounds

leaping mountains; imaging

masculinity.

The stag stands beyond

the wall, gazing at windows,

entranced by the view.

My beloved speaks

his invitation: Arise

my love, come with me!

The winter retreats,

withdrawing its rain; flowers

emerge from the earth.

Listen to the birds!

The fig tree produces fruit,

fecundity rules!

Fragrant vines blossom.

They call: Arise my fair one,

my love; come away!

© Ken Rookes 2024

A voice cries, Comfort!

Haiku for a coming.

Comfort my people.

Yes, we could use some comfort.

We feel lost, afraid.

Tell Jerusalem,

in words of tenderness, her

punishment is past.

A voice is crying:

In the wilderness prepare

the way; the Lord comes.

Mountains are levelled,

uneven ground is made smooth,

as are the rough roads.

The Lord is coming,

the day of glory draws near;

we all will see it.

A voice says Cry out!

People are withering grass

and fading flowers.

When God breathes on them

the grass withers, flowers fade;

only God’s word lasts.

Shout out loud, boldly,

Jerusalem. Do not fear.

Say, Here is your God!

The tidings are good.

Tell Judah, God comes in love;

he is our reward.

He will feed his flock

like a shepherd, gathering

the lambs in his arms.

© Ken Rookes 2023

You shall plant vineyards

 Haiku of restoration

Everlasting love.

The stuff that matters. From God.

All else falls away.

The time is coming

When I’ll reclaim my people;

I will be their God

They survived the sword,

found grace in the wilderness;

the Lord came to them.

Such big promises;

God’s faithfulness continues.

Nothing can stop it.

My people are lost;

in love I shall restore them;

I’ll build them again.

Take your tambourines

and dance in celebration;

our God is with us!

You shall plant vineyards

on Samaria’s mountains

and gather the fruit.

On Ephraim’s hillsides

they’ll call: ”Let’s go to Zion

to worship the Lord”

© Ken Rookes

What God has done

Haiku of abundant love

The Lord is gracious;

I will tell what God has done

to bless their people.

God has favoured us,

though we did not deserve it,

because of His love.

My people are true,

honest. God saves her people;

in all their distress.

We’re all God’s people,

you, me, the Muslim, Hindu,

the agnostic, too.

God needs no angel,

divine messenger; God’s

presence alone saves.

Reaching out in love,

God redeems us, lifts us up,

carries us forward.

© Ken Rookes 2022

Unrequited

Haiku of failure

Unrequited love;

God’s for Israel. Little

wonder that God weeps.

Prophet Hosea

brings the word of God’s anguish

along with judgement.

They went their own way,

ignoring the call of God

for justice and truth.

Profound love imaged

in the tender embracing

of parent with child.

This is a strange God,

feeling rejection; needy

and so capricious!

The anger; is it

because of faithlessness, or

the failure to love?

God’s recoiling heart,

refusing harsh punishment;

the power of love.

Judgement is forestalled!

The God of second-chances,

the God we worship.

Return, O people!

God who balances justice

with mercy awaits.

© Ken Rookes 2022 

Promise (Holy Spirit)

Haiku for Pentecost

The works that I do,

John’s Jesus assures us, should

be enough for faith.

The works that he does

show his close relationship

with God, his Father.

The works that he does

will also be done, John says,

by those who believe.

Ask me anything,

Jesus says, I will do it.

All to God’s glory!

Show that you love me.

by keeping my commandments.

I’ll send my Spirit.

The Spirit of truth

is sent to stand beside you,

recalling my words..

John’s Jesus is sure,

full of authority, joined

and equal with God.

Peace: his parting gift

to his friends. Don’t be troubled,

do not be afraid.

© Ken Rookes 2022

 

Jesus is praying

Haiku of unity

Jesus is praying.

He prays for those who follow:

May we all be one.

Divine indwelling:

You in me and I in you;

may they dwell in us.

This deep unity,

purposed at creation’s core;

let nothing divide.

It’s all about love,

generosity ruling

all human dealings.

He knows his Father,

revealing God’s name of Love,

to all who listen.

Jesus’ rule of love,

given to direct our lives

and join us as one.

© Ken Rookes 2022

 

Pool of healing

Haiku of entry

In Jerusalem,

by the sheep gate; Beth-zatha

a pool of healing.

Beside Beth-zatha

pool, many invalids lie,

blind, lame, paralysed.

 

 

Ill thirty-eight years.

Jesus asks his strange question:

Would you be made well?

When the angel stirs

the water, I am too slow;

others enter first.

Stand, take your mat. Walk!

The man was made well, and walked.

It was the sabbath.

Rules have been broken.

Love brings healing and wholeness.

Let’s keep breaking rules.

© Ken Rookes 2022

The ones who love me

 

The ones who love me

Haiku for the faithful

The ones who love me,

they are those who hear my words,

who do what I say.

By your love you show

that you are mine, by keeping

my command to love.

Those who keep my word

are loved by God. We will come,

make our home with them.

Those who do not love,

who fail to keep my commands,

don’t belong to God.

I am with you still.

Soon I’ll be gone; the Spirit

will come in my name.

The Spirit speaks truth,

continues my work of peace.

Peace I leave with you.

I must go away,

to the Father; I return

to you as Spirit.

You love me: rejoice!

The new thing God is doing

is coming to pass!

© Ken Rookes 2022

Nothing else; only love.

 

Haiku of the essence

The new commandment:

as ancient as time itself,

as new as the dawn.

In love, self-giving,

in sacrifice and in death

God’s glory is found.

My children, shortly

I will be gone. You will search,

but you won’t find me.

Where I am going

you are not able to come.

I give you one rule.

Love one another,

in the same way that I love

you, you are to love.

One thing, nothing else;

by your love you will be known

as my disciples.

Being ruled by love

will be proof that you are mine.

Nothing else, just love.

© Ken Rookes 2022