In the middle of July, I returned to Dallas (my home town) and I had the wonderful opportunity to meet many of the approximately 75 people who attended my presentation, “Overcoming the Trials of a Lifetime.” I continue to be amazed at two things : (1) how warm and friendly are the people in the Lone Star State and (2)  how people can live right through 7 digit temperatures in that dagnabbed Texas summer.

I will be returning to Dallas again this fall, upon the invitation of Believers Chapel, where attended as a teenager.

Arrangements are being made for the book tour to continue. I’ll keep you posted.

Here is an excerpt from my new book titled, Overcoming the Trials of a Lifetime, subtitled, Finding Meaning and Joy in the Midst of Afflictions, Illness and Hardships (My book is available for purchase at Amazon and a number of other retailers.)

I was diagnosed with what they call Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease. In 2000 and when I was only 38.  Now I am 58.

That was rough. When you lay a twenty-, thirty-, or forty-year decline estimate on someone who’s already seventy or eighty, many of the issues with Parkinson’s would occur after average life expectancy. When you’re thirty-eight, you get to ride through all those times.

Parkinson’s is incurable, progressive, and degenerative. It just gets worse. There are no Parkinson’s survivors. It never lets go of you. It never goes away. I didn’t have a lot of options for coping with the situation. I wasn’t counting it as joy nearly two decades ago when I was diagnosed.

I was shocked. I had plans. I had goals. I had career objectives. I was doing well in my career. Everything I had worked so hard for was in the palm of my hand. My life was going great. I had all kinds of things lined up. My life was in order. Suddenly, I was told that in ten years, I’d be in a nursing home. I didn’t have time for this! I had things to do.

I asked myself (not God), Why is this happening to me? What did I do to deserve this? My children were toddlers, and I thought, Will I ever dance at my daughter’s wedding?

First came denial. There must be a mistake. What else could cause these same symptoms? Maybe there were more doors I could choose. Could it really be that Parkinson’s was my best outcome?

Second, came anger. I complained, “Why me? It is so unfair. I don’t deserve this.” I was filled with anger. I paid my taxes. I hadn’t hurt anyone. I wasn’t out robbing banks or selling drugs. Why would God single me out for punishment?

Third, there came an emotional response reacting to my feeling that my getting Parkinson’s was unjust.  But this time my request was less that I would be spared, but more that people more unworthy should be diagnosed with Parkinson’s.  I thought, Why don’t you punish that person? I don’t like him very much, and he probably deserves it.  I named the names! You can understand what was going through my mind and how I would think that way, right? There are so many evil people in the world God could let get Parkinson’s. God, go turn your anger to those people.

“Overcoming the Trials of a Lifetime –finding meaning and joy in the midst of afflictions, illness, and hardship“.

About the Author

Randy Broberg is a lay pastor at Maranatha Chapel in San Diego, California. He is also a professor at the Maranatha Bible College and a leader of his church’s men’s ministry. Randy has practiced intellectual property law for 23 years and was a partner of several large law firms and served as a firmwide department chair.

Randy was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease in 1999 at the age of 38. During the first ten years after diagnosis, Randy continued practicing law and began teaching at his local church. He ended his law practice in 2010.

Randy continues to preach and teach at Maranatha, but he devotes his primary attention to life-coaching young men ages 22 to 40.

Randy has degrees in both classical studies and European history from Stanford University and a Juris Doctor of Law degree from the University of Virginia. He also attended the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, Greece and the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome, Italy.

For 30 years Randy has been married to his wife, Justine. They have two sons and a daughter.

About the Book.

Randy’s Explanation for Why He Wrote the Book: “About a year ago, a good friend who had just been diagnosed with incurable leukemia asked me what my “coping strategy” was. I was shocked to realize that after 19 years with Parkinson’s Disease, I wasn’t really sure what my coping strategy was. I think I mumbled something like, “leave a legacy” and “take one day at a time.” There’s nothing wrong with those two ideas, but I felt I should have had a better answer.  My intent in writing Overcoming the Trials of a Lifetime was to encourage those suffering from chronic pain and illness and to help them cope.  In the quest for a better coping strategy, I began a study of the Bible to see if it could help me cope. I found the answers I was looking for in both the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and the New Testament: Joy and happiness do not come from your circumstances, they come from God through your spirit.”

Overcoming the Trials of a Lifetime is a book that can help anyone suffering from an affliction, illness or trial and their spouses, family, and friends. Many people who are not currently experiencing hardships but know people who are can share a blessing from this book.

The book includes also the narrative of my early zeal for God which I set aside during college and did not have again until 17 years later when I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. It is a story of a prodigal son, who returned home only after his spiritual life was turned upside down.

Topics addressed in the book include: why we suffer, how God works everything for our good, how many ways God heals, coping with Parkinson’s, the power of prayer, when life seems unfair, experiencing God’s power in our lives, dealing with doubts, how and why we should thank God for everything, even the hardships we go through. and many others.

Overcoming the Trials of a Lifetime is a book that can help anyone suffering from an affliction, illness or trial and their spouses, family, and friends. Many people who are not currently experiencing hardships but know people who are can share a blessing from this book.

Here’s a link to B&N page with my book:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/overcoming-the-trials-of-a-lifetime-randall-k-broberg/1131610370?ean=9781973660583