Loddon Mallee UCA Presbytery Blog
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
Haiku responding to Rom. 5:1-11
.We have peace with God.
By grace we receive, through faith
we are justified.
What a gift this is!
By grace we boast in the hope
of sharing glory.
From our afflictions
come endurance, character,
and finally, hope.
Our hope is from God,
whose love does fill our hearts, through
the Holy Spirit.
While we were helpless
Christ died for the ungodly.
That is unheard of!
God's love has been proved:
While we were still lost in sin
the Christ died for us.
Since we have now been
justified by his blood, we
are saved from God's wrath.
We were made God's friends
by his Son's death, so much more
we're saved by his life.
We boast of God's love
in Jesus Christ; through our Lord
we are reconciled.
© Ken Rookes 2026
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
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
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
Haiku of promise
From darkness to light;
a metaphor unequalled.
One for the ages.
The darkness of fear,
uncertainty, the wondrous
light of love and hope
Oppression will end,
the burdensome bar and yoke
will be taken away.
The warriors boots
and garments covered in blood
shall be burned in fire.
A child has been born,
a son, authority rests
upon his shoulders
He has many names:
Wonderful Counsellor, Prince
of Peace, Mighty God.
With justice and truth
he'll establish David's throne.
There'll be endless peace.
Ken Rookes 2024
Published for Christmas Day. From Isaiah chapter 9
Ken Rookes 2024
Haiku for a birthplace
The prophet Micah
nominates the birthplace town;
it is Bethlehem!
Bethlehem might be
a small place; from her one comes
to rule Israel.
When the time is right
she will give birth; until then
much must be endured.
When he stands to rule,
his absent kindred shall come
home to Israel.
Standing in the strength
of God, he will feed his flock.
They shall live secure.
His name will be known
to the ends of all the earth;
he shall rule in peace.
© Ken Rookes 2024
Haiku for the wise
Calling in the street,
Wisdom cries out for wisdom,
‘stead of ignorance.
How long will they choose
foolishness, how long will they
despise the science?
How long will they make
a virtue of ignorance;
taking pride in it?
I stretched out my hand,
says wisdom, to offer you
counsel; you refused.
Disaster awaits
you, but you have made your choice.
I’ll laugh at your plight.
Calamity comes,
and they’ll call to me for help;
but I’ll ignore them.
They chose ignorance
over the fear of the Lord.
Such stupidity!
They have rejected
Wisdom’s counsel; let them eat
Futility’s fruit.
They have turned away
from God’s wisdom to the path
of death, destruction.
But those who listen
to Wisdom will be secure,
finding peace, not fear.
© Ken Rookes 2024
Haiku of the promised one
From the ancient line
of Jesse and David comes
one we have hoped for.
The Spirit of God,
of wisdom, understanding
shall rest upon him.
The Spirit of might,
counsel and fear of the Lord
shall rest upon him.
Righteousness guides him
when he delivers judgement
for the poor, the meek.
Such great metaphors:
wolf and lamb; leopard and kid
living peacefully.
Defenceless children
playing safely among snakes:
this image of peace.
The knowledge of God
will fill the earth. He shall be
a sign for us all.
© Ken Rookes 2022
Haiku of peaceful hope
The days are coming
when the nations will stream to
the house of the Lord.
Many peoples come,
saying, let’s seek Jacob’s God,
so to learn God’s ways.
They will say, Come, now,
We will learn the ways of God,
walk upon God’s paths.
From Zion, God’s word
comes forth, to instruct and guide
and show us God’s way.
God shall judge between
the nations, and determine
what is fair and just.
They shall beat their swords
and spears on anvils, into
ploughs and pruning hooks.
No more shall they learn
warfare; nations will not fight
or lift up their swords.
God’s light shines on all;
come, house of Jacob, let’s walk
in the light of God.
© Ken Rookes 2022
Haiku for an ideal world
New creation hope;
a new heaven, a new earth.
We could do with that.
The old earth has failed;
its people weren’t up to it.
Not enough justice.
Renew your people,
God. We can do with having
our lives upended.
In Jerusalem
God rejoices, takes delight
in all God’s people.
All weeping will end
the cries of distress will pass
when God makes us new.
Death is in retreat
as longevity commands
the lives of us all.
Those who plant vineyards
will enjoy the fruit; labour
will not be in vain.
Peace and harmony,
abundant blessings will rest
upon God’s people.
The wolf and the lamb
feed together; imaging
God’s new reign of peace.
The day is coming
when power meets its limits
and justice prevails.
© Ken Rookes 2022
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
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
Haiku of stillness
After a long day
telling stories, parables,
Jesus needs a break.
Suggests a boat trip.
Let us cross the lake; we can
leave the crowd behind.
He slept in the stern
as winds gathered force, and waves
beat against the boat.
They woke him. Teacher,
don’t you care that we perish?
He spoke: Peace, be still!
Rebuking the wind
and commanding the sea, he
speaks, and all is calm.
Why are you afraid?
He asked them. Where is your faith?
They were filled with awe.
Who, they ask, is this?
When our boat is being swamped
he brings us order.
Speak your word of peace
into my turmoil, Jesus;
let my waves be stilled.
© Ken Rookes 2021
