My experience with conference calls, is that they usually take a long time, and I have to be really quiet when dad gets one:)

I sincerely hope so!

I definitely agree - God uses the trials and troubles of life to help us grow closer to Him, and to make us more like Him, if we let Him.  God is not the author of evil. 

I think a good example of this is Job.

"And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?
Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought?
Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.
And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD."   Job 1:7-12

God has a hedge of protection around His children.  Satan had to ask for God’s permission to torment Job.   He had no power to do it otherwise.  God allowed Satan to torment and trouble Job, for His ultimate glory.

I think 1 Corinthians 10:13 applies nicely to this, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

God knew that Job was able to bear anything Satan could throw at him.

With regard to God punishing you, I think what Jesus said in John 9:1-3 says it all:

"And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him."

You may never know what works of God will be made manifest in Zach, but God does.

Although we might not always understand why God allows us to have trials and troubles in our lives, we do know that, like Romans 8:28 says, "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."  Discipline and pruning often feel the same, because they’re bother very painful, and they often accomplish the same goal. But, God needs to prune us sometimes, so we will be more fruitful in our lives.

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit."  John 15:2

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me, Uncle John.

Love you,

~Tasha~