Herbert G. Bowen, VATG Guest Blogger

Psalm 119:71

My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.

This verse should be coupled with Psalm 119:7 as it says, “As I learn your righteous laws, I will thank you by living as I should!” The pairing of the verses provides an action and a reaction. The action is witnessed through our suffering, which produces enduring characteristics like patience, perseverance, and character (Romans 5:3-5). Our suffering leads us back to God (reaction), while our eyes affix themselves on the path He set before us. Now we learn that fulfilling our own desires doesn’t glorify God, but degrades us. Therefore, may we cast out the notion that sin is acceptable, for our time on Earth is borrowed and we only have one life to live it right. So let us evade the evil found at night and run toward the fulfillment found in the light.  For wrongdoing bears little opposition; but righteous living finds many enemies, though stays favorable in God’s sight. Amen

About Herbert G. Bowen, Jr.

Born in King of Prussia, Pa., Herbert G. Bowen Jr., accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at the tender age of 5. An active member of the Central Church of God in Charlotte, N.C. where he resides, Herbert serves as a youth/discussion group leader, where he has preached and taught Sunday school, as well  as Wednesday night service. In addition, he has preached at Second Baptist Church in Pottstown, Pa., Destiny City Church in Salisbury, N.C.  At his current age of 23, Herbert is the youngest board member on the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) Leadership Council, where he serves to lessen the costs of tuition for African American students. Moreover, Herbert serves on the PureHope advisory board, where his commitment to “wait until marriage” fits perfectly with PureHope’s mission to bring a Christian solution to an immoral culture.

Finally, Herbert through the will of God writes weekly devotionals to combat the decreasing morality in the 18-30 age group a.k.a., “the transition gap.” This is an effort to re-introduce Jesus Christ to this spiritually starved generation. His devotionals go out to 2,000+ people and continues to grow under the Lord’s watchful eye.  He is a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in Business Management. He provides business expertise to help others start their businesses.