Getting Down to Business... Literally
Since my last update, a lot of things have happened. It's been a busy month behind the scenes for Wheel Truth. I finalized the selection of my board members, and we already had our first meeting just last week. It was a very productive meeting that gave us a lot of momentum to help us move forward. As a part of this meeting, the board officially instated me as President and CEO of Wheel Truth Media, which is not a title I ever expected or really sought out, but this is where God has me so I can serve him. Many of the decisions at this meeting helped me get the ball rolling with the Foundation Group so they could begin working on my articles of incorporation and other paperwork that needs to be filled out. They did not waste any time because after I gave them the information they needed just one day after our meeting, they filed our articles of incorporation and just like that we are officially incorporated in the state of Colorado with the name Wheel Truth Media.
Even though this is certainly exciting, now comes the hard part. Or perhaps more accurately the long part. What is that you ask? Getting 501(c)(3) nonprofit status from the IRS. There is a pretty lengthy form that needs to be filled out and I am so thankful I'm going to have help with this from the Foundation Group. I don't know all the ins and outs of the form that they need and how to prepare all of the different items they need so they can approve my non-profit status. Add to that that the IRS is a government organization and that they need time to review and approve the documentation and you can get the idea that this could take a while. I have an initial consultation with the Foundation Group in the next week and a half so they can walk me through all of the various steps I need to take to fill out this form.
There is not a whole lot I can do until that consultation phone call, but I did decide to work on getting a logo made so I can at least continue to get some work done. I thought this was going to be really expensive, but then I remembered a site called Fiverr that I heard of from some youtubers. I decided to check them out and found a designer that would do the job for a really good price. I wasn't sure what kind of result I would get, but I thought it was worth the risk considering the price difference. So, I filled out their form explaining what I wanted and waited for some design concepts. Since I based the name “Wheel Truth” on the fact that I am in a wheelchair, it sounded like a great idea to base the design of a logo on one of the actual wheels on my wheelchair. Doesn't that sound like a good idea? One might think so, but it turns out that led to some concepts that I rather disliked. After trying a totally different approach and some design tweaks, I finally came up with a result that I really liked. Check it out!
Even though there is a lot of work and a long wait ahead, I know that God has a plan and that this will happen in his timing. It is comforting knowing that this is in his hands and that he will lead me and give me strength throughout the process. When life gets busy or difficult, we must remember that God is in control and that He wants us to be faithful. God does expect us to put effort into our walk with him, even when life gets busy, but we don't always remember that or do so with great execution. This reminds me a little bit of the conversation between Jesus and Peter the apostle that I recently heard taught in a sermon by R.C. Sproul.
“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34 Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.” – Luke 22:31–34
In our times of busyness, trouble, or distress, Satan wants us to fail. He wants us to give in to the temptation to deny Jesus in those times. One way that we deny Jesus is by failing to be faithful when these kinds of things occur in life. We can also deny Jesus when we think that our plan is best or even when we try to accomplish God's plan with our own effort. These things are always a temptation when life gets hard. Unfortunately, we all know that Peter did deny Jesus three times. There are times when we are going to fail as well. In those times, God is willing to forgive us, but that is not an excuse when they do happen. This account is also encouraging because Jesus said that he prayed that Peter would not fail, even though he did. Scripture tells us that God intercedes for believers, so he is praying for us as well, including that we do not fail. All of this encourages me, and I hope that it encourages you too. This truth always gives us a reason to be encouraged because God has prayed for us. God has prayed for me as I start this nonprofit to teach and encourage Christians and that I do not fail when I encounter temptation.
The progress on my nonprofit. The fact that God is with me. The fact that I am being prayed for. These are all things that I am encouraged by. I am excited to see where God takes this ministry, especially once it is fully established and I am able to pour all of my time and energy into producing the content that God has given me the desire to make. I hope it is not too long before I am even able to make some preview content, so be praying that I'm able to squeeze that in soon so you can get a taste of what I really want to do with this ministry. So stay tuned!
