Saturday mornings as a kid were awesome. Everything about them was so . . . predictable. My favorite cartoons were on at the same time every week (I always started with the Muppet Babies at 8:00 AM). You could always count on a giant bowl of cereal for breakfast in middle of the living room floor. This was back when companies didn’t shy away from actually using the word “Sugar” in the name of their cereal – remember Sugar Smacks and Super Sugar Crisp? Sure it was bad for us, but ignorance was, in fact, bliss.
But one of the most predictable and oddly comforting parts of every Saturday morning was the Bugs Bunny Road Runner Show.
The creator, Chuck Jones, devised 9 rules that governed every episode. These rules meant that while the particular details would vary, the outcome would always be the same.
Rule 1: The Road Runner cannot harm the coyote except by going “beep-beep”
Rule 2: No outside force can harm the coyote—only his own ineptitude or the failure of the Acme products
Rule 3: The Coyote could stop anytime—if he were not a fanatic (repeat: “a fanatic is one who redoubles his effort when he has forgotten his aim.” – George Santayana)
Rule 4: No dialogue ever, except “beep-beep”
Rule 5: The Road Runner must stay on the road—otherwise logically, he would not be called a road runner
Rule 6: All action must be confined to the natural environment of the two characters—the Southwest American desert
Rule 7: All materials, tools, weapons, or mechanical conveniences must be obtained from the Acme corporation
Rule 8: Whenever possible, make gravity the coyote’s greatest enemy
Rule 9: The coyote is always more humiliated than harmed by his failures
Just like the rules that protected the Road Runner, God has put some promises in place that significantly impact how your day is going to go. Whether you are a tired mom, a weary organizational leader or an overwhelmed advocate, these 5 promises put some boundaries on things that may be an encouragement to you today:
James 1:3-4 (NLT)
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
Romans 8:28 (NLT)
And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Matthew 6:33 (NLT)
Seek the Kingdom of God[a] above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
I John 1:9 (NLT)
But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
I Peter 5:7 (NLT)
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
These promises, just like Chuck Jones 9 rules, make sure that you have something – or rather someone — you can count on . . . every time.
By Jason Weber
