What does it mean to be called as a husband, a wife, a parent, a child? How does the grace of the gospel impact how we carry out our particular calling? How does God's presence influence the struggles that families face? Gene Veith joins forces with his daughter Mary Moerbe to explore these kinds of questions as well as the roles of calling and vocation in family life. Though we have little control over who is in our family (other than choosing a spouse and deciding to have children), God has placed us with specific people for specific reasons. Veith and Moerbe show how our roles are distinct and important to God's plan for our lives—and that when we have a biblical understanding of those roles in our families, we can move away from common dysfunctions and toward forgiveness and healing. Writing with sensitivity and wisdom, Veith and Moerbe address the common problems facing contemporary families: the crosses, the weaknesses, and the uncertainties. They articulate a compelling, biblical paradigm for creating and sustaining loving and forgiving families who maintain hope in the face of cultural pressure. This book is an important resource for all Christians, including pastors, counselors, and those working in family ministry.

"Family Vocation: Embracing God's Call with Unity and Purpose" is a compelling exploration of the profound journey families undertake when responding to the call of God. This reading material delves into the intricate tapestry of family life, uncovering the ways in which families, as cohesive units, navigate the sacred path set by God. With a keen focus on unity and purpose, this reading offers guidance on nurturing strong family bonds while aligning with the greater spiritual mission to respond to the calling of God.

Rather than discussing their possible vocation, discussions of children tend to center on their rights or duties. Does God have intentions for their young lives -- before they grow up and become “real” people? Distinguished jurist Patrick McKinley Brennan has gathered sixteen authors to approach this idea in various ways, from historical to psychological to theological. The authors explore throughout whether it is possible for adults to either squander their children's vocations or instead to help discover and embrace them. Contributors: Marcia Bunge Patrick McKinley Brennan John E. Coons Charles Leslie Glenn Heather M. Good Vigen Guroian William Harmless Anthony J. Kelly Bonnie Miller-McLemore Charles J. Reid Jr. Philip L. Reynolds Elmer John Thiessen George Van Grieken Robert K. Vischer William J. Werpehowski John Witte Jr.

How shall we live? What is the good life? What is the value of a person? What is my place in this world? Is God active in this world? These are questions that have been asked in every culture and in every era. From the Hebrew concept of Shalom (wholeness/well-being) to the Greek concept of Eudaimonia (happiness) and even to the American notion that all people have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, great thinkers have pondered what it means for humans to flourish. The doctrine of vocation uniquely answers these questions. A certain level of security, prosperity, and freedom are essential components of human flourishing. God provides these components by working through humans in their stations in life such as parents and police (security), farmers and bankers (prosperity), and soldiers and governments (freedom). And yet there is more for which we humans strive. We are the types of beings whose wonderment drives us to the pursuit of knowledge, justice, and achievement. In short, we desire to be justified. We want to be valued. We want to be right or just. We strive for epic-ness. But no mere human adulation will satisfy. Nor can we justify ourselves before God with our broken lives. God justifies Christians through Christ and then uses them. God adds another component to human flourishing: purpose. He uses Christians in his economy of love to take care of the world. He lifts us from the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary even as we carry ordinary tasks. For the Christian these stations become callings or vocations. This can only fully be appreciated if the Christian knows that he or she is free from pleasing God through works. Once the Christian is freed from this burden the whole of the Christian life is reoriented to the free exercise of love towards neighbor. It is the highest calling, the truly good, flourishing, and happy life.

Answers parents' questions and concerns about priesthood, celibacy, seminary, and more.

When you understand it properly, the doctrine of vocation—"doing everything for God's glory"—is not a platitude or an outdated notion. This principle that we vaguely apply to our lives and our work is actually the key to Christian ethics, to influencing our culture for Christ, and to infusing our ordinary, everyday lives with the presence of God. For when we realize that the "mundane" activities that consume most of our time are "God's hiding places," our perspective changes. Culture expert Gene Veith unpacks the biblical, Reformation teaching about the doctrine of vocation, emphasizing not what we should specifically do with our time or what careers we are called to, but what God does in and through our callings—even within the home. In each task He has given us—in our workplaces and families, our churches and society—God Himself is at work. Veith guides you to discover God's purpose and calling in those seemingly ordinary areas by providing you with a spiritual framework for thinking about such issues and for acting upon them with a changed perspective.

Ours is not a culture that publicly appreciates motherhood, and it is time for that to change. Feminism, while winning certain victories for women, has wrongly left motherhood behind. Many women today, including faithful Catholics, are ambivalent about motherhood or see it as something that will compromise their careers, lives, and happiness. In Motherhood: An Extraordinary Vocation, Dr. Kathryn Rombs invites women to enter this vocation or reengage with it, newly aware of its meaning, beauty, and power. Each chapter focuses on a theme that is essential to every woman’s interior development as she contemplates the role of motherhood in her life. Topics include: The spiritual genius of motherhood The many ways mothers build, shape, and strengthen society How motherhood can be a path to fulfillment and even greatness The biblical view of the dignity of motherhood It is time for Christ’s message of the dignity, strength, and purpose of motherhood to prosper. This book will help you in your personal discovery — or rediscovery — of your vocation. Kathryn does an excellent job of articulating why motherhood is worth pursuing for your own good, but also for the good of the world. ...This book will help you lift your sights up to see beyond the choices you are making today to the impact you are having on your family and the world for eternity. - Alicia Hernon, co-founder of the Messy Family Project ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dr. Kathryn Rombs is the founder of Mighty Is Her Call, Inc., a ministry that elevates Catholic mothers through retreats, a daily blog, and other resources for Catholic mothers. She sometimes serves as an adjunct professor of philosophy at the University of Dallas. Dr. Rombs earned her masters and doctoral degrees in philosophy from Fordham University. She and her husband, Ron, are raising their six children in Irving, Texas, although they are currently enjoying a several-year stay in Italy.

"What will you be when you grow up?" Children are invited to playfully ponder this question in light of God's intention for them.

Many grandparents experience a surge of joy with the birth or adoption of a grandchild. For years afterward, time together is eagerly coveted, pictures are treasured and displayed, and multiple gifts along with various kinds of support are gladly provided. Richard Olson, a retired minister, professor of theology, and grandparent many times over, presents the unconditional love of a grandparent as indicative of a vocation, a calling from God. He explores the vocation of grandparent in all of its multiple dimensions of being and doing. Informed by a biblical perspective, the book explores the author’s personal journey of grandparenting and includes conversations with a diverse set of other grandparents. Olson examines biblical examples of grandparenting and suggests that the grandparent vocation has possibilities that often go unnoticed. These include care, enjoyment, and response to issues throughout a grandchild’s growth. He also addresses concerns for our grandchildren’s future world, and how grandparents can engage in mutual conversation about faith, morals, and values in a changing world. In addition, Olson discusses increasingly common relationship types such as grandparents serving as primary caregivers, adults becoming step-grandparents through marriage, interreligious family systems, and grandparents handling children with special needs. The book includes questions for personal or group reflection.