Hold On To Your R.A.F.T.!: Principles to Preserve Godly Purpose

By Jr. Charles Humphrey

In his debut book titled Hold On To Your R.A.F.T.!, Pastor Charles Humphrey Jr. explores the dynamic between a man’s purpose and the principles of Responsibility, Accountability, Faithfulness and Transparency (R.A.F.T.). As evidence, it is noted that men operating in God-given purpose can ac

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charles Humphrey
• Release date: Jun 26, 2018
• ISBN: 9781732314603

Book preview

Introduction

Success.

Most men ascribe to the thought that the things he accumulates and possesses reflect his success. If you have money, women, sex, fame, or vast material goods, society considers you successful. You do agree, RIGHT? Of course, you do! How do we know? We know because we see men every day striving to possess these things. But, in spite of all this success, somehow these same successful men cheat on their wives, commit crimes, act violently, abuse drugs and people, battle discouragement, depression, and even despair. When we find that the successful men we admire and look up to appear to be failing at life, it can leave us lesser men with a sense of hopelessness. Admittedly, it can be discouraging to see our heroes in business, politics, academia, or even ministry show us they, too, have feet of clay. We won't say it outwardly, but inwardly, we wonder: man, if the guys with all the degrees, high paying positions, and material wealth, are faltering, What hope is there for me?

A great number of men with incredible skills, talent, charisma, fame, or fortune fail in monumental ways, leaving behind monumental collateral damage. Though the individuals and circumstances may vary to a degree, the sheer magnitude of the events prompt us to question how and why these things happen. A look at a few real-life cases can leave one scratching his head and asking these questions:

Why is a professional football player, with a super bowl win under his belt, convicted of drugging and raping as many as sixteen women in four states?

Why does a renowned Southern California medical school dean, responsible for raising millions of dollars and enhancing program status, step down under allegations of excessive and criminal drug use and contributing to the overdose of a prostitute?

Why does a prominent Atlanta pastor, with a congregation over twenty-five thousand and known for leading men, get served with lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of underage male members of his congregation?

Why does a young Democratic U.S. Congressman engage in sexting and use social media to share lewd photos with minors, forcing him to resign from a once promising political career?

Why were fifteen, professional football players arrested for violence against women between 2012 and 2014? And, why did the commissioner of the lucrative National Football League impose greater oversight and punishment of these players only after public outrage and pressure by women's groups?

Why does an award-winning R&B artist, credited with over thirty million album sales, become the repeated object of media attention because of an alleged illegal marriage, sexual relations with underage women, and holding women captive in an abusive cult-like environment?

Why do various Hollywood executives, responsible for creating blockbuster movies, come under fire for sexual harassment or having non-consensual sexual encounters with aspiring women actors?

Why does a physician for the United States Olympic team sexually abuse over one hundred fifty underage female gymnasts and other women over several decades leading to a one-hundred-seventy-five-year jail sentence?

These types of questions are not new, but we still grapple with the why? every time a similar or worse scandal rises to the surface. Why did he cheat on his trophy wife? Why did he resort to trafficking drugs even though he made millions of dollars in the NBA? Why did he neglect his fatherly responsibilities with one set of kids only to be a model dad for another set of children?

These incidents that trouble men are independent of race, color, education level, or financial status. And, though I only referenced a few high-profile cases, variations on this theme are abundant among men. However, the lower-profile occurrences among men like you and me don't make the headlines. As they say, But, for the grace of God, there go I...

I have my theory why these popular, wealthy, successful, gifted and prominent men do the incredibly destructive things they do.

My wife would say, Some men have just plain lost their minds!

I would agree, but phrase it another way. I would say, They let go.

And, this letting go has reached epidemic proportions.

All over the world, regardless of race, color, economic status, educational background, or marital status, they are letting go. They may be white collar or blue collar, young or old, but they are letting go. They are letting go of the basic principles and foundational values that got them to their place of prominence, prosperity, and popularity. Men are letting go of the cornerstones of their manhood. With ease, they abandon cornerstones like respect, integrity, consistency, and being a man of your word. Why, it's all the rage! Everyone is doing it. As long as you get what you want, what's the big deal? I suspect men are letting go for various reasons as follows:

Some are overwhelmed.

Some are tired.

Some are lonely.

Some are afraid.

Some are losing control.

Some have lost focus.

Some have lost vision.

Some are confused about their value in a rapidly changing society.

Some have just lost hope.

The problem is when men let go, they are not only letting go of critical life principles, they are letting go of something much greater. They are letting go of purpose.

And, failing to operate in purpose has led to the widespread problems we see in families, institutions and in society.

But, the remedy is simple.

Instead of letting go, men need to do the opposite. They need to hold on. They need to hold on because it's important. They need to hold on because it's worth it. They need to hold on because lives are at stake. And, they need to hold on to something of substance. They need to hold on to their R.A.F.T.

I pray this book will encourage you to do the same thing.

Hold onto your R.A.F.T.

Chapter 1

Every Man Needs a R.A.F.T.

If you are like me, you have gone to conferences, read articles and books seeking answers to this perpetual male dilemma. There has been no shortage of effort put into seeking to solve the man problem. Allow me to share a few discoveries other great motivators of men have already made in efforts to get to the root of the matter:

A tremendous mentor and spiritual influence in my life, Larry Titus of Kingdom Global Ministries, writes in his book, The Teleios Man that a man must discover his identity to become teleios or complete. Larry, I couldn't agree more!

In his best-selling book," Wild at Heart, author John Eldridge gives men permission to be men and to rediscover their masculine heart without resorting to being the typical Macho Man. That makes a lot of sense to me, John!

Dr. Tony Evans, one of the country's most respected leaders in evangelical circles, also addresses the man problem in his book Kingdom Man. He writes that the world is falling apart, not due to the lack of males, but the lack of Kingdom Men—men who will align themselves with the comprehensive rule of God. Pastor Evans, your insight is profound as usual!

The late Dr. Myles Munroe, in his book, Understanding the Power and Purpose of Men, also noted that men are in crisis of purpose due in part to their misunderstanding of their roles in society.

Now, I could fill several pages with quotes from the late Edwin Louis Cole (father of the modern Men's Movement), former University of Colorado football Coach Bill McCartney of the Promise Keepers movement, or Bishop T.D. Jakes of ManPower and He-Motions fame. Just thinking about their collective God-given insight on the subject makes me to want to go back and re-examine the ABC's of my own personal understanding of manhood.

Even with all their incredible insights on men, I believe there are still more truths that will help men effectively combat the tendency to spiral into abusive and destructive patterns and a life without purpose. And, as much as my understanding of all things men is still developing, I am compelled to share what God has given to me in this area. So, as I say, Yes and Amen, to the great men