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Seeing Through the Fog Lib/E: Hope When Your World Falls Apart
An exploration of identity and faith, Seeing Through the Fog invites readers to a vibrant life, an expectant life, a life of joy in each new morning.
Pastor Ed Dobson has spent his life preaching sermons, but this book is not a sermon. He has spent more than ten years with a debilitating illness, but this book is not about grief. He has found joy in the midst of sorrow, but this book is not about looking on the bright side.
Seeing Through the Fog is about living well when you realize you can’t live forever. It is about having gratitude for each sunrise, birthday, and moment of knowing God more. It is about holding hope when circumstances hold pain.
With stories, wisdom and unique content distinct from the popular film series about Ed, Seeing Through the Fog will encourage readers in their own difficulties and give them hope for their future.
Pastor Ed Dobson has spent his life preaching sermons, but this book is not a sermon. He has spent more than ten years with a debilitating illness, but this book is not about grief. He has found joy in the midst of sorrow, but this book is not about looking on the bright side.
Seeing Through the Fog is about living well when you realize you can’t live forever. It is about having gratitude for each sunrise, birthday, and moment of knowing God more. It is about holding hope when circumstances hold pain.
With stories, wisdom and unique content distinct from the popular film series about Ed, Seeing Through the Fog will encourage readers in their own difficulties and give them hope for their future.
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First published October 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
September 29, 2012
Seeing through the Fog isn't your average book about seeking hope for the future and being wholly positive. It is a true to life account of one mans attempt to keep his faith strong whilst dealing with a terminal illness.
This is my first book by Ed Dobson and I found myself wishing I could have the chance to meet him and be encouraged by his outlook on life. Dobson didn't write this book souly for people suffering with ALS, but for people suffering through grief, depression, divorce. A wide range of difficulties but all just as soul depleting.
He urges the reader to find praise in every wake up call, every second of getting to know the miracles around us, that whether or not God heals our sorrow in that moment of pain, He remains and someday we will all be at home in His heavens.
Part memoir, part exploration of faith and joy-filled life, this book is one that stays with you long after you've finished. Dobson's beautiful writing style helps you to understand his pain at growing weaker and having to accept help from others. He shows that it is indeed possible to keep your Faith whilst walking through the badlands.
This is my first book by Ed Dobson and I found myself wishing I could have the chance to meet him and be encouraged by his outlook on life. Dobson didn't write this book souly for people suffering with ALS, but for people suffering through grief, depression, divorce. A wide range of difficulties but all just as soul depleting.
He urges the reader to find praise in every wake up call, every second of getting to know the miracles around us, that whether or not God heals our sorrow in that moment of pain, He remains and someday we will all be at home in His heavens.
Part memoir, part exploration of faith and joy-filled life, this book is one that stays with you long after you've finished. Dobson's beautiful writing style helps you to understand his pain at growing weaker and having to accept help from others. He shows that it is indeed possible to keep your Faith whilst walking through the badlands.
August 9, 2015
Seeing through the Fog is a very encouraging book for anyone facing challenges, particularly those of a medical nature. Ed Dobson shares his journey through ALS with great honesty and humility. He doesn't offer any panaceas or pat answers to the hard questions of life, instead he simply invites the reader into his own story, sharing his heartaches, his doubts and his hopes.
September 14, 2013
This is not a syrupy sweet book that says that everything is going to be okay and turn out fine, or that if you just have enough faith God will provide a miracle just like a genie granting wishes. No, this is a book written by a man with who is in the process of dying from ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) yet still has hope. His hope is not for a cure, but in life and in God's love and grace and provision in getting him through the disease and the depression, and the other life changes and circumstances that go with it. A great book for ANYONE dealing with life altering circumstances.
December 13, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. As a person seeking to understand one who has ALS (my brother-in-law is in his 6th year of ALS), or anyone with a terminal illness or long-term 'thorn in his/her side,' this was a great aide to help in that understanding. Transparent, true to self, witty at times, and yet because of the nature of the disease disparaging yet hopeful. I really enjoyed his style and honesty.
October 4, 2015
Helpful, honest book. I read about his thoughts on his ALS diagnosis with great interest since I lost my Father in Law to ALS. But, his observations about how to deal with grief were helpful to anyone going through transition, uncertainty, and loss.
June 2, 2017
Holding unto your Faith in the light of being diagnosed with a terminal illness is never easy.
Ed Dobson has shown in this book his personal struggles after being diagnosed with ALS.
His struggles and its descriptions were apt, and at some points humorous; yet deeply emotional.
He highlighted 5 key points that could be applied by all, regardless of heath challenges;
1. Reduce stress in your life
2. Quit your job
3. Learn not to worry about tomorrow
4. Learn to be forgiving
5. Learn how to be thankful
Overall, it was a very good read. Because life may not always go as planned. And God may not answer all your prayers, but this shouldn't stop you from believing and living life to the fullest.
So live, love and enjoy life.
Ed Dobson has shown in this book his personal struggles after being diagnosed with ALS.
His struggles and its descriptions were apt, and at some points humorous; yet deeply emotional.
He highlighted 5 key points that could be applied by all, regardless of heath challenges;
1. Reduce stress in your life
2. Quit your job
3. Learn not to worry about tomorrow
4. Learn to be forgiving
5. Learn how to be thankful
Overall, it was a very good read. Because life may not always go as planned. And God may not answer all your prayers, but this shouldn't stop you from believing and living life to the fullest.
So live, love and enjoy life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2017
This book is written by a pastor who was diagnosed with ALS. He takes us through the first knowledge of symptoms to the diagnosis to the loss of movement and pastoral position. It is a very real and honest account of what he went through. I was moved and inspired by this man. I guess because I could see me think in the same manner he did. I would possess the same fears, concerns and questions. I pray,however, that I would minister in my pain and heartache as much as Ed did. Worth the read!
June 27, 2024
This was a very honest and vulnerable book. The author shares what it’s like to have a terminal illness from a Christian point of view. It was such an open book that showed how he dealt with his grief and sadness while remaining hope-filled and Christ centered. I highly recommend it for any Christian dealing with a terminal diagnosis or anyone dealing with grief of any kind.
February 1, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is a refreshing look at walking through ALS but, meaningful to me because of my son’s journey with juvenile myositis. Grateful that this pastor offered up his story.
June 11, 2021
Life is a constant struggle and most times it is the positive stories like the author here that encourages us to #keepiton through our daily battles. The struggle won't end till your end comes, why not find peace and get satisfaction at the end. A good book worthy of reading.
November 7, 2022
I fairly relate to this book and it is an extremely helpful and relatable book that I enjoyed reading.
January 19, 2023
Extremely powerful book, teaches a lot about being grateful and thanking God for life and little things
November 1, 2023
Appreciation to Ed Dobson for sharing his story and the hope it brings.
Read
September 14, 2017I liked the book it was great I like a mystery book like this , also he's a very good at making you think deeper into issues .
December 31, 2023
A really great reflection on life with Jesus in the midst of the fog we face.
November 28, 2012
This review first appeared on my blog, Jacob's Café (jacobscafe.blogspot.com).
Every month during my year-long predoctoral internship, I spent a day with patients diagnosed with or being assessed for ALS. This is a tragic disease that killed baseball great Lou Gehrig and gave renowned physicist Stephen Hawking his electronic voice. This disease not only affects the individual, but also the families. Often the families were more deeply impacted by the losses than the actual patient.
A common thread among the patients and families was that they were forced to address existential questions. During our support group including both patients and family members, it was not unusual to get questions and comments related to faith, the goodness of God (or lack thereof), and the process, hope, and promise of healing.
ALS can be a great equalizer of people. We saw all races and socioeconomic statuses. Both genders were well represented. While it tends to hit people in the second half of their life, we had a good representation of the under 40 crowd. We occasionally got someone under 20. And the process of ALS is different for each person. Some die within months of diagnosis. Others, like Hawking, can live for decades.
Medically-speaking, there is virtually no explanation for the etiology or the reason for continued degradation of the body. There was one lady whose hands were essentially paralyzed. She explained she and her congregation prayed hard and the ALS stopped partway up her arms and has been stable for years. Others have just as much prayer, and the disease seems to move faster.
This can impact one's faith in so many ways, as anyone can imagine. So when I saw Ed Dobson's book, Seeing Through the Fog, exploring, in part, his journey with ALS, I was intrigued. I was even more interested in hearing reflections from this pastor who worked closely with Jerry Falwell and yet voted for Obama.
What I particularly appreciated about Dobson's work is his complete honesty. Emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually, he discussed the journey of his life pre- and post-ALS.
Ultimately, this is not a book about ALS, although I can be very helpful for those suffering with ALS and their loved ones. It's also not a book presenting a formula for how to deal with challenges in life. Rather, he beautifully explores how to see God in the midst of the mundane parts of life. And find joy in those moments, growing ever closer to Christ in the process.
It seems that ALS really helped Dobson particularly see the complexities of life and find the joy in the nuances. He does not minimize the challenges of the fog that so many of us face in different ways, but he also reflects on the beauty of God's incarnational love that takes us through that fog. There were many times I left the support group I was co-leading wanting to cry. Not out of sadness, but because of the beauty of the deep, sacrificial love these families display. Like so many tragedies, ALS can destroy a family, or it can bring them together more powerfully than ever, gloriously shining the love of Christ for everyone to see.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Every month during my year-long predoctoral internship, I spent a day with patients diagnosed with or being assessed for ALS. This is a tragic disease that killed baseball great Lou Gehrig and gave renowned physicist Stephen Hawking his electronic voice. This disease not only affects the individual, but also the families. Often the families were more deeply impacted by the losses than the actual patient.
A common thread among the patients and families was that they were forced to address existential questions. During our support group including both patients and family members, it was not unusual to get questions and comments related to faith, the goodness of God (or lack thereof), and the process, hope, and promise of healing.
ALS can be a great equalizer of people. We saw all races and socioeconomic statuses. Both genders were well represented. While it tends to hit people in the second half of their life, we had a good representation of the under 40 crowd. We occasionally got someone under 20. And the process of ALS is different for each person. Some die within months of diagnosis. Others, like Hawking, can live for decades.
Medically-speaking, there is virtually no explanation for the etiology or the reason for continued degradation of the body. There was one lady whose hands were essentially paralyzed. She explained she and her congregation prayed hard and the ALS stopped partway up her arms and has been stable for years. Others have just as much prayer, and the disease seems to move faster.
This can impact one's faith in so many ways, as anyone can imagine. So when I saw Ed Dobson's book, Seeing Through the Fog, exploring, in part, his journey with ALS, I was intrigued. I was even more interested in hearing reflections from this pastor who worked closely with Jerry Falwell and yet voted for Obama.
What I particularly appreciated about Dobson's work is his complete honesty. Emotionally, cognitively, and spiritually, he discussed the journey of his life pre- and post-ALS.
Ultimately, this is not a book about ALS, although I can be very helpful for those suffering with ALS and their loved ones. It's also not a book presenting a formula for how to deal with challenges in life. Rather, he beautifully explores how to see God in the midst of the mundane parts of life. And find joy in those moments, growing ever closer to Christ in the process.
It seems that ALS really helped Dobson particularly see the complexities of life and find the joy in the nuances. He does not minimize the challenges of the fog that so many of us face in different ways, but he also reflects on the beauty of God's incarnational love that takes us through that fog. There were many times I left the support group I was co-leading wanting to cry. Not out of sadness, but because of the beauty of the deep, sacrificial love these families display. Like so many tragedies, ALS can destroy a family, or it can bring them together more powerfully than ever, gloriously shining the love of Christ for everyone to see.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
September 25, 2014
Summary:
Ed Dobson had been pastor of a large church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He resigned the pastorate after the ALS diagnosis. A decade later Ed Dobson wrote a book in order to share his life story especially in regards to this unkind struggle in his life with ALS. His story is one of honesty, not holding back in feelings that to some people may seem dissonant. Sometimes life is harsh, and it is definitely okay to express it in truth. Early in the book Dobson addresses and defines the word hope.
"This is a book about hope. Not the kind of hope that ignores your current circumstances. Not the kind of hope that goes around your current circumstances. Not the kind of hope that dismisses your current circumstances. But the kind of hope that can come only in the midst of your circumstances." Page 16.
My Thoughts:
Dobson had just turned fifty: "It was the first day of the remainder of my life."
At turning fifty myself earlier this year it felt as if I'd arrived, still not sure what that arrival means. But for Dobson it meant a diagnosis of ALS.
Living with an incurable disease rattles the framework of our life. It changes priorities. A different perspective is revealed. What we'd thought our later years would be like, becomes instead something foreign and unknown. We then realize we just thought we had some control over our life.
Dobson tries hard to be stoic, but breaks when he refuses to be "thankful" for ALS.
How can someone be thankful for a disease? Dobson had heard people remark they were thankful they'd had cancer. Dobson could not say he was thankful for ALS. But, he can say he is thankful "in" circumstances. During the circumstance of ALS he is a thankful person. There is a difference.
"In the midst of my struggle I can still be grateful."
Chapter seven is on people who prayed for him to be healed, and when it did not happen he asked: "So where do I find God when heaven is silent?" Later in chapter ten he writes: "Don't get obsessed with being healed."
"...I simply try to focus on God; sometimes He feels close, and sometimes I can see Him only through fog. But I know He's there." Page 111.
At the end of the book there are two questions which are still rolling around in my head.
"What are you holding back from the offering plate? What areas of your life need to get into the plate?" Page 137.
Ed Dobson had been pastor of a large church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He resigned the pastorate after the ALS diagnosis. A decade later Ed Dobson wrote a book in order to share his life story especially in regards to this unkind struggle in his life with ALS. His story is one of honesty, not holding back in feelings that to some people may seem dissonant. Sometimes life is harsh, and it is definitely okay to express it in truth. Early in the book Dobson addresses and defines the word hope.
"This is a book about hope. Not the kind of hope that ignores your current circumstances. Not the kind of hope that goes around your current circumstances. Not the kind of hope that dismisses your current circumstances. But the kind of hope that can come only in the midst of your circumstances." Page 16.
My Thoughts:
Dobson had just turned fifty: "It was the first day of the remainder of my life."
At turning fifty myself earlier this year it felt as if I'd arrived, still not sure what that arrival means. But for Dobson it meant a diagnosis of ALS.
Living with an incurable disease rattles the framework of our life. It changes priorities. A different perspective is revealed. What we'd thought our later years would be like, becomes instead something foreign and unknown. We then realize we just thought we had some control over our life.
Dobson tries hard to be stoic, but breaks when he refuses to be "thankful" for ALS.
How can someone be thankful for a disease? Dobson had heard people remark they were thankful they'd had cancer. Dobson could not say he was thankful for ALS. But, he can say he is thankful "in" circumstances. During the circumstance of ALS he is a thankful person. There is a difference.
"In the midst of my struggle I can still be grateful."
Chapter seven is on people who prayed for him to be healed, and when it did not happen he asked: "So where do I find God when heaven is silent?" Later in chapter ten he writes: "Don't get obsessed with being healed."
"...I simply try to focus on God; sometimes He feels close, and sometimes I can see Him only through fog. But I know He's there." Page 111.
At the end of the book there are two questions which are still rolling around in my head.
"What are you holding back from the offering plate? What areas of your life need to get into the plate?" Page 137.
January 24, 2013
A few years ago while visiting Mars Hill Church in Grand Rapids MI, I got to hear Ed Dobson preach. I was there hoping to hear Rob Bell, but when the music came to an end they welcomed 'Ed Dobson' to the stage. Although he wasn't large in stature, this man wearing a soccer jersey was enormous in passion for preaching the Bible. He preached on Abraham and Isaac for about 45 minutes and I could have listened for at least another 45 minutes.
After hearing Ed teach just that one time, I developed such an affinity for him. A few years ago I read his book The Year of Living Like Jesus, which I couldn't put down. It was a book about his journey to live just like Jesus (morally, culturally, scripturally) for a full year. Fantastic book!
Seeing Through The Fog: Hope When Your World Falls Apart is a brilliant yet unassuming book. It is written almost like a journal but not entirely. The book is a tapestry of stories, thoughts, scriptures, struggles, and humor as Ed navigates life with ALS (Lou Gehrigs disease). I laughed out loud at times in the book, and other times was almost brought to tears. Without question this is the most powerful book I have read on the subject of suffering. Ed's handling of such a powerful and delicate subject is nothing short of masterful.
Of all the sermons I've heard and books I've read on suffering and healing, this is what I would describe as being the most Biblical. Reading about the questions and thoughts Ed struggles with as this disease progresses, stirred up a lot of emotions in me. You can hear a mix of fear, humility, and confidence as he describes his life and his wrestling with his faith and his disease. This book was so captivating to me that I read the whole thing in one sitting.
Ed is a pastor by calling and he writes with a humble pastors heart. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with a terminal illness, has a loved one with a terminal illness, or for anyone who has experienced deep loss or struggle.
www.jonathanstephens.wordpress.com
Twitter: @jonstephensNY
After hearing Ed teach just that one time, I developed such an affinity for him. A few years ago I read his book The Year of Living Like Jesus, which I couldn't put down. It was a book about his journey to live just like Jesus (morally, culturally, scripturally) for a full year. Fantastic book!
Seeing Through The Fog: Hope When Your World Falls Apart is a brilliant yet unassuming book. It is written almost like a journal but not entirely. The book is a tapestry of stories, thoughts, scriptures, struggles, and humor as Ed navigates life with ALS (Lou Gehrigs disease). I laughed out loud at times in the book, and other times was almost brought to tears. Without question this is the most powerful book I have read on the subject of suffering. Ed's handling of such a powerful and delicate subject is nothing short of masterful.
Of all the sermons I've heard and books I've read on suffering and healing, this is what I would describe as being the most Biblical. Reading about the questions and thoughts Ed struggles with as this disease progresses, stirred up a lot of emotions in me. You can hear a mix of fear, humility, and confidence as he describes his life and his wrestling with his faith and his disease. This book was so captivating to me that I read the whole thing in one sitting.
Ed is a pastor by calling and he writes with a humble pastors heart. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is dealing with a terminal illness, has a loved one with a terminal illness, or for anyone who has experienced deep loss or struggle.
www.jonathanstephens.wordpress.com
Twitter: @jonstephensNY
September 29, 2013
Finding Purpose Through Suffering
A genuine and heart-felt look at what it is like to walk through adversity with deep faith. In this book, Ed Dobson chronicles his account of living with a degenerative medical condition (ALS) and not giving up on his faith. He finds purpose in his suffering and develops an attitude of thankfulness….not for the disease, but for all the things that he does still have. Oh, I have a lot to learn from this man! He is humbled by this disease and learns about different types of blessings that he has been given. He finds new ways to have purpose in his life and still be an encouragement (even to others with ALS).
He cites that healing from a biblical perspective is not necessarily being cured, but first being at peace with God. The 2nd aspect of healing is to live at peace with others – so he goes about the task of asking forgiveness from others he may have previously wronged in order to say that he lived life with no regrets. In the final element of healing he learns how to be at peace with yourself and your circumstances. In a brilliant analogy, Ed says that he could relate to Jesus who also knew the limitations of living His life in the flesh (vs. being the divine God with no limitations) and this gives him added strength.
Another important insight that Ed shares: A common question people ask is “Where is God when life falls apart?” Ed comes to find that He is there in the people He puts around us. Wonderful insight!
I believe that as long as we are alive, God still has a purpose for our lives. For that reason, I say “Well done, Ed!” I think you found God’s purpose in all of this and encouraged so many with your story. I’ve learned a lot from reading this book. You are an inspiration!
I received a complimentary e-book of Seeing Through The Fog from David C. Cook in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
A genuine and heart-felt look at what it is like to walk through adversity with deep faith. In this book, Ed Dobson chronicles his account of living with a degenerative medical condition (ALS) and not giving up on his faith. He finds purpose in his suffering and develops an attitude of thankfulness….not for the disease, but for all the things that he does still have. Oh, I have a lot to learn from this man! He is humbled by this disease and learns about different types of blessings that he has been given. He finds new ways to have purpose in his life and still be an encouragement (even to others with ALS).
He cites that healing from a biblical perspective is not necessarily being cured, but first being at peace with God. The 2nd aspect of healing is to live at peace with others – so he goes about the task of asking forgiveness from others he may have previously wronged in order to say that he lived life with no regrets. In the final element of healing he learns how to be at peace with yourself and your circumstances. In a brilliant analogy, Ed says that he could relate to Jesus who also knew the limitations of living His life in the flesh (vs. being the divine God with no limitations) and this gives him added strength.
Another important insight that Ed shares: A common question people ask is “Where is God when life falls apart?” Ed comes to find that He is there in the people He puts around us. Wonderful insight!
I believe that as long as we are alive, God still has a purpose for our lives. For that reason, I say “Well done, Ed!” I think you found God’s purpose in all of this and encouraged so many with your story. I’ve learned a lot from reading this book. You are an inspiration!
I received a complimentary e-book of Seeing Through The Fog from David C. Cook in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
January 30, 2013
Seeing Through the Fog, written by a former pastor diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s (ALS) disease fall of 2000, relates how he lives with and finds hope while he suffers from a terminal illness. It’s an illness with no known cause or cure, a disease that gradually destroys all nerves and muscles, known to cause paralysis and death.
Ed uses the analogy of thick fog to describe what it feels like to live with Lou Gehrig’s disease, where he no longer can control his body, instead, the disease, like a thick fog controls all of his movements.
Yet, the book isn’t about disease, it’s about hope. Hope that doesn’t ignore, go around or dismiss the hopeless circumstances Ed lives with. That sense of hope fuels his strength to continue living in spite of the catastrophic challenges of Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Readers learn how he found hope and learned to give thanks during the “darkest times” as his body slowly, inexorably continued to deteriorate. While, at the same time, he recognized everyone struggles with something, his struggle just happened to be terminal while others fought with finite things such as divorce, depression or loss.
However, it was in the struggle he learned there are no “easy answers…no Bible verse or prayer…” that would make it all go away. He also realized he didn’t fear death, but he was “concerned about the process of getting there.” (pg. 16)
Chapters on worry, fear, healing, forgiveness, relationships, deciding to be a “pastor no more,” and others are written with forthright vulnerability. There is something for everyone within the pages of this small book with such a big message, especially anyone who suffers, lives with terminal illness or struggles with deep loss.
Joni Eareckson Tada…Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/bbr72tk
Ed uses the analogy of thick fog to describe what it feels like to live with Lou Gehrig’s disease, where he no longer can control his body, instead, the disease, like a thick fog controls all of his movements.
Yet, the book isn’t about disease, it’s about hope. Hope that doesn’t ignore, go around or dismiss the hopeless circumstances Ed lives with. That sense of hope fuels his strength to continue living in spite of the catastrophic challenges of Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Readers learn how he found hope and learned to give thanks during the “darkest times” as his body slowly, inexorably continued to deteriorate. While, at the same time, he recognized everyone struggles with something, his struggle just happened to be terminal while others fought with finite things such as divorce, depression or loss.
However, it was in the struggle he learned there are no “easy answers…no Bible verse or prayer…” that would make it all go away. He also realized he didn’t fear death, but he was “concerned about the process of getting there.” (pg. 16)
Chapters on worry, fear, healing, forgiveness, relationships, deciding to be a “pastor no more,” and others are written with forthright vulnerability. There is something for everyone within the pages of this small book with such a big message, especially anyone who suffers, lives with terminal illness or struggles with deep loss.
Joni Eareckson Tada…Full Review: http://tinyurl.com/bbr72tk
October 10, 2012
This is a superb audiobook by Ed Dobson. This is a very honest and open account of his journey with ALS, the terminal condition his was diagnosed with 11 years earlier. This subject matter did have the potential to be very depressing, but it's actually very positive and liberating. The author has done a wonderful job of describing his thoughts and feelings with such honesty, that it made me feel full of hope that its alright not to have all the answers, when I've also been struggling with illness. It is not full of Christian cliches at all, but small pointers that have helped the author himself on this journey. The narrator Arthur Morey was perfect for this audio. He became the author to me with all the emotions in the right places. I would recommend this audio to every Christian whether you are struggling with illness or not, but are looking for a audio with depth and hope. This will do it for you without making you feel guilty or doubting your faith or God's love for you. Thanks to christianaudio.com Reviewer's Program for this copy.
July 3, 2014
Certainly anyone who has or knows someone who has ALS will want to read Ed Dobson's words of struggle and wisdom. Living over 11 years with a terminal disease does much to change a heart and perspective. Dobson doesn't mince the truth of the struggle of his battle and yet still finds joy and hope in the midst of a bleak situation. Heartfelt and often humorous memories flood the pages as Ed recounts his journey of life. His enduring faith partners with the doubts that anyone coping with ALS would have (or perhaps anyone living might have). I loved the readability of this book (finished it in a few day's time) but most of all I treasured its honesty. We don't always have all of the answers when it comes to life, death, faith, joy, and sorrow. Ed beckons you into his story and somehow you can identify with the questions he raises and the hope he offers.
October 10, 2012
I've been reading Ed Dobson's book "Seeing Through The Fog - Hope When Your World Falls Apart". This book takes the reader on a journey into Ed's life with ALS for the last 11 years. As I have turned the pages it is as if just Eddie and I a...re having a cup of coffee and a personal conversation about life, pain, questions about God, why people hurt people, healing, forgivenness and the list goes on. The question for the reader is do you dare enter the fog of your own life to discover hope. This book is but a quick read yet will cause you to ponder your relationship with Jesus in a new light. I highly recommend this to everyone it is a treasure!See More
July 25, 2013
Honesty is a quality that is largely absent from the culture surrounding the modern day evangelical church. Dobson is quite honest about his diagnosis with ALS and the subsequent challenges to his faith. Though I may not agree with some of his theological viewpoints (and many will not) though the fog it seems was not written as a expansive exhaustive theological treaties but rather a memoir of life and faith with terminal illness. To get hung up on theological viewpoints is distracting to the purpose of the book.
Gods grace and the power to say “I don’t know”.
A good read for those who are in midst of a terminal illness or who are in the middle of the asking big questions to God.
November 16, 2015
I read this book so that I could better understand what people go through when they have a debilitating disease. It was very helpful. Ed was honest and straightforward about how the disease (ALS) and its progress affected him. Sometimes the story line jumped around too much, or added things that were not really relevant. Overall, it served the purpose for which I read it. It was not the strongest storyline I have ever read, and it was not as poignant was I thought it would be. But it did provide insight into the feelings and life of someone who had been diagnosed with a ravaging disease.
May 24, 2013
Ed Dobson's life is inspiring, to be sure--his stark honesty grappling with Lou Gehrig's disease strikes a chord with readers, making him seem to get what holiness is all about. But what I found most amazing was how ordinary Ed is. He's not a super human. He has a hard time buttoning his shirts, and that's really frustrating. But his kind of faith God gives to his ordinary creatures he makes extraordinary. Wisdom and insight to be found here.
September 8, 2014
A moving personal account of someone fighting ALS and how it impacted their walk with God. This is a short, but powerful read, mostly focused on the narrative of the author and not the theology. Especially in light of the Ice Bucket Challenge, this is a good book to read. While not technical in its theology, it does offer some helpful insights, particularly the "cured vs healed" concept," when dealing with suffering.
December 3, 2012
Interesting reflections from someone who's lived a very high-output life, and who is now trying to adjust to life with ALS.
Ed, I found your experience asking for forgiveness most moving and profound.
Maybe when your life is slipping away you finally realise that relationships are more important than any other differences.
It has prompted me to reflect on my life. Thanks.
Ed, I found your experience asking for forgiveness most moving and profound.
Maybe when your life is slipping away you finally realise that relationships are more important than any other differences.
It has prompted me to reflect on my life. Thanks.
July 20, 2016
Quick read. Excellent first hand take on suffering. Part auto biography, part inspirational read for Christians attempting to maneuver through life with illness.
Went beyond illness, however, to give perspective where perspective is due. Gave this reader a little gut check for the times I complain or wish for more (or less).
Went beyond illness, however, to give perspective where perspective is due. Gave this reader a little gut check for the times I complain or wish for more (or less).
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December 30, 2012This is a great testimony of a man who helped start the moral majority, pastored and mega church and then was called to a simple life of following Jesus after an ALS diagnosis. I love the author's profound honesty about faith and life.
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