ED's STORY - A FILM SERIES ABOUT HOPE
A seven-part film series about hope, featuring Ed Dobson. Watch the trailer to get a taste of the journey we take with Ed through these seven films.
In It Ain't Over, the first film in the Ed's Story series, Ed Dobson reminds us that life isn't over yet and that we don't have to feel overwhelmed by the struggles we're facing today. Difficult news can sometimes make us feel like our lives are over. Ed shows us that we don't know the future, and that things may turn out quite differently from what we expect.
Sometimes we worry too much about the future. Ed stopped making plans more than two weeks out after his ALS diagnosis. Why? Tomorrow is not guaranteed—for any of us. When we worry about tomorrow, we often miss out on the beauty, richness, and fulfillment of today.
Could living for today be what's best for us, and could it even free us from the worries of tomorrow?
When those close to us suffer, it's only natural to want to help. But what do you say when someone's life falls apart and suffering becomes their reality? How can you show you care?
The people who comforted Ed most were the ones who just showed up and didn't say a word.
Perhaps just being present can bring more comfort, peace, and a sense of God's presence than words ever could.
Many of us find our identity in what we do. But what happens when our career comes to an abrupt end? What happens when that job is no longer there? Are we still ourselves? Does our identity change?
A pastor for many years, Ed struggled to adjust to a life without the pulpit. He eventually discovered there is much more to who we are than what we do. Could it be that change is an opportunity for a renewed sense of purpose?
When Ed was told that his life would be over in a few short years, he found his priorities drastically rearranged. He wanted to mend relationships that may have been broken. He decided that relationships where way more important than who was right and who was wrong.
Ed discovered that forgiveness is an issue that requires humility. He also discovered a transforming experience for all involved. Could the power of forgiveness lead to a better world around us?
Many people start each day with a list of things to accomplish. But it's possible to get caught up in this list; to anticipate how things will go and actually feel entitled to each of our days. As if they are owed to us. It wasn't until Ed was forced to slow down that he truly began to see all that he has been given.
Tragedy reminds us what little control we have over life; we are always at the mercy of something other than ourselves. As Ed shares, perhaps acknowledging this lack of control is the key to really understanding the notion of healing.
Ed Dobson
Ed Dobson is pastor emeritus of Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and serves as a consulting editor for Leadership magazine. He holds an earned doctorate from the University of Virginia, and is author of numerous books, including The Year of Living Like Jesus and Prayers and Promises When Facing a Life-Threatening Illness. He moved to the United States from Northern Ireland in 1964 and now lives with his family in Grand Rapids.
The Year of Living Like Jesus
In The Year of Living Like Jesus, Dobson chronicles his humbling and inspiring year in Jesus's sandals. Like A. J. Jacobs's bestseller, The Year of Living Biblically, Dobson's book is funny, challenging, and provocative. With great candor and wisdom, he invites readers to join him on a year of revelation, a year that changed his spiritual life forever.
Prayers and Promises When Facing a Life-Threatening Illness
Thirty short-yet-powerful morning and evening reflections offer encouragement, hope, and inspiration to people dealing with a life-threatening illness, and to their family members and caretakers. Here are honest insights and personal stories from a pastor who continues his own journey with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease".
Ed's Blog
Ed's Blog
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