Your Biographical Sketch.

Have you ever thought about how you would summarize your life? Each of us perceive our value and worth in our own way. Some focus on relationships while others on task or titles. It’s a rather challenging thing to think about. 

I once was challenged that I should write out my obituary. I don’t like to think about those kinds of things. It is rather morbid! Yet, it can be a tool that could help to discover my purpose and meaning in life. It is most helpful to know your purpose but I like what Mark Twain once wrote. “There are two important day in your life. The day you are born and the day you discover why.”

Albert Schweitzer once wrote a maxim to life that for Christians is of high importance. We need to be people who serve!

"I don't know what know: the ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve. -Albert Schweitzer, 1875

I have attended hundreds of funerals and officiated over the service of many others. As peculiar as it sounds, it is one of my more favorite religious responsibilities. I would much prefer to do a funeral than I would a wedding, though I have actually done hundreds of those. I know that sounds weird!

Well, here it goes, my biographical sketch.

Reverend Rick Carder serves as the Director of Church Outreach for Josiah White’s, a Christian family services ministry headquartered in Wabash, IN. Rick has served in various Christian ministries since 1987, and was ordained by the Wesleyan Church in 1989. Prior to serving with Josiah White’s, Rick served in alumni and church engagement with Indiana Wesleyan University. Rick has also served within the Wesleyan Church in various capacities including as a pastor and youth pastor. Rick is passionate about serving foster parents and foster children. Rick and his wife Cindi were foster parents for eight years, and Rick has served as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children in foster care. Rick believes in the life-changing power of the Gospel, and is thankful to be a part of a ministry that offers new possibilities for children and families.  

This biographical sketch was written by the marketing team of Josiah White’s as a tool to help organizations to have a bit of a background whenever I speak to a group.

Ecclesiastes 1:2-3 says that life is vanity; it will quickly pass. In the Voice translation we find a clarity of meaning to these often quote passages.

2 Teacher: Life is fleeting, like a passing mist.
        It is like trying to catch hold of a breath;
    All vanishes like a vapor; everything is a great vanity.
3     What good does it do anyone to work so hard again and again,
        sun up to sundown? All his labor to gain but a little? (The Voice. Ecclesiastes 1:2-3)

It’s a sobering thought to think that all of us have a life expectancy. For many do exceed that number, if there are many tragedies of those who die young. Songs have been created and mini books have been written but help to validate the nature of life.

Yet, the scripture tells us that we should yield our time and attention to the Lord. Each of us are given the same amount of time no matter how long we live. The Bible tells us that we live day by day. While many set calendars months and even years down the road yet, there is no guarantee except the one given to us by our creator.

I say more and more often, “if it be your will”. I believe that it is a healthy expression to consider the fact that our life is in God’s hands. As we walked through life being humble and grateful for each and every day that we are given, may we do our giving while we’re living and invest ourselves into the lives of others; for future generations and not just our own!