Books published by Covenant Books

The “essential question” and “impetus” which drives my book is the critical question: Why are our families, to “include” the Christian family, in such disarray? This short yet potent work provides the reader with the meaning and composition of the family as God sees one of his most valued institutions: “the family.” When we endeavor to allow the family beginning with the “father” to take its rightful role and place, many of the societal ills and struggles to include issues within the modern-day church will be delimited and/or eliminated. Some of the simplistic roles as ordained by God include, but are not limited to: father as mentor, mother as nurturer, and son and daughter as builders of family name. These key ingredients paired with integrity will take the modern-day family back to its rightful place as we, as a world community endeavor, to answer the question: “What’s wrong with my house?” and seek our answers from the living Word of God.

As the topic of diabetes continues to sweep the news cycle, Ampofoh is determined to raise awareness about the disease and help people take control of their health. She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the age of twenty-eight.During her long period of nursing career, the author took care of many elderly diabetic patients, including family members. Living with Diabetes is a comprehensive health guide allowing diabetic patients and their caretakers to make healthier and more informed decisions about how to handle the disease and achieve optimum results. To achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle, Ampofoh added that self-management of diabetes is imperative. She said, “Just because you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes does not mean your life cannot be a wonderful and exciting journey.”Read more to discover insights to topics such as coping mechanisms and motivation.I began to share my story dealing with diabetes after my abrupt retirement as a motivational speaker in some local churches and fitness centers. The beginning of my routine exercises was not easy, especially after my spinal injury. I have been walking one hour or more a day for some time now. I have faith to carry me through the storm. I enjoy walking most of the time by myself; and now that I am losing weight, there is no way I will look back. Walking is free, and it is my daily routine that powers me to control and maintain my blood glucose level. My weight is stable, and I follow my diabetic diet plan carefully, with proper medical supervision. I have been blessed to write some articles in some local newspapers and journals, sharing my views on subjects related to health and life in general. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to share my story, Living with Diabetes: Divine Healing Through Faith, with my wonderful audience.

Does God exist? Can we know God? These questions are but two of many that represent the mysteries of life.  The greatest minds in the fields of philosophy, theology, and science have wrestled with these questions over the millennia looking for definitive answers. Their responses to these two questions have been profound and persuasive. Yet, in spite of the proofs presented, doubt continues to exist. In the end, as the saying goes, “It all comes down to faith.” It always does and always will. In full recognition of that fact, To Know God is a journey of faith.  It is an apologetic that seeks knowledge of God, first through love, then through revelation and reason to offer proof beyond reasonable doubt that God does exist and—as far as humanly possible—is knowable. It looks to areas where Divine manifestations, metaphysics, and the laws of science find common ground. It is through this unification of spiritual enlightenment and transcendence with science that the existence of God becomes apparent. What is more, the common underpinnings of this union help us— as far as our limited capacities will take us—to understand the substance and essence of God. In other words, take us to a point where we can begin To Know God.

A living lost soul in this book can be a life from the old life to a born-again new life in Jesus. This book is my life of darkness without Jesus, but when Jesus touched me, I was free to worship and praise him for giving his life for me. I was that person walking in the darkness and now have seen this great light (Isaiah 9:2). This light has shone, do you want this? It’s a great gift from a Holy King who love like nobody can touch his love. Love is his character; look what he did for me; he will do it for you too. Great grace of this wonderful King of Kings. Thank you and enjoy God’s book of his story. I got a chance to tell it.

We need to get back to simple basics. I borrowed Donald Trump’s campaign slogan and rephrased it to emphasize the exciting idea, Make the Bible Great Again.The Bible expresses the solutions to every problem facing people today. If we teach the application of the biblical principles of faith, healing, trust, confidence, and optimism, we will experience positive and verifiable results. We all must learn how to live and successfully overcome the challenges of stress. The Bible is very clear on how to do that. Not only do we have to learn how to live, we have to learn how to die. It’s all part of everyone’s life cycle.Norman Vincent Peale said, “The Bible is not theoretical. It is our greatest book of wisdom. More copies are sold than any other book. That is because in this book we discover not only what is wrong with us but how to correct it as well.”Application of biblical principles is the purpose of this book.

John 10:10 (NIV) says that “a thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so they may have life. I want them to have it in the fullest possible way.” We can’t have abundant life if we are harboring grudges and holding onto unforgiveness in our hearts. Don’t allow the enemy to rob you of your destiny. Release forgiveness and walk in the freedom that Jesus died for us to have. Let today be the day that you get your heart healed and walk in victory.

The activity of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is for his or her benefit to enable them to fulfill all that God has planned. His power and presence give each person the ability to accomplish things that may be beyond their natural abilities.

In the beginning of May 2011, the world received news that one of the greatest manhunts in history came to an end. A wounded nation breathed a sigh of relief at finally receiving much-needed closure. A private investigator hired to find a missing person is led on a trail of intrigue and danger as he makes startling discoveries that challenge the misconceptions of what the world believed. How could this happen? Who is responsible for this Grand Deception? The answers are . . . inside!

The story of a State prison bloodhound, the guards named Bozo, that was scheduled to be destroyed because of his failure to follow commands and considered dangerous by prison guards. Bozo’s journey from tracking men to trailing white tail deer with a young boy that gained Bozo’s love and trust in the South Alabama river swamps. Bozo and Me is an exciting, adventurous, and tender hearted story of God’s providence in unfolding events, over the years, in people’s lives that would witness Bozo’s journey.

In looking over my life, it’s interesting to realize how often some luck has been involved. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay area led to learning to love the Pacific Ocean and to getting to attend Sequoia High School in Redwood City, a school that I later realized had prepared me for winning National Championships, and medals in two Olympics. Our family’s move to Montana led to lots of great hunting and fishing with brother Danny, and attending the University of Montana led to Danny, brother Jerry and I all being smoke jumpers for the U.S. Forest Service. That work also prepared Jerry for successful years with the CIA in Laos and Thailand, work that earned him three CIA medals of honor. Brother Kent was Montana State Trap-shooting champ and State champ in high school wrestling. My 4 years of military service sent me to Korea where I learned about the sport of modern pentathlon, and which also sent me to a year of study in a great Sport Institute in Stockholm, Sweden.  Next came graduate studies at the universities of Oklahoma and Wisconsin, which also led to many outstanding years of research in exercise physiology and how to be a successful running coach.  Coaching years found me starting men’s track and cross-country at Oklahoma City University, National Track Coach in the country of Peru, and women’s track and cross-country coach at University of Texas.  Then 6 years of research with Nike, followed by 19 years coaching runners at the State University of New York in Cortland to numerous national titles. I also began coaching post-collegiate runners, several of whom competed in Olympic Games, including a Silver-Medal winner in women’s marathon. However, all of these accomplishments all take second place to my marriage to Nancy Jo Scardina, who was first a great runner (Olympic Trials qualifier in the totally-different events of 1500 and marathon), then was my Assistant Coach for 25 years during which she also became the mother of our two wonderful daughters, Audra Marie and Sarah Tupper. Sarah is an opera singer in New York City and Audra a very dedicated worker at the University of Washington in Seattle.  Nancy has become a Registered Nurse and is as dedicated to that profession as she was to her running career. I always envy those for whom she provides aid. Few people have had the luck I have had. God bless Nancy Jo, Audra Marie and Sarah Tupper.

These Scriptures helped us look and go beyond the shallow and medium waters.“When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep waters and let down the  nets for a catch.” (Luke 5:4) and “When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. (Luke 5:6 NIV)In the beginning of our ministry, we thought of the colonia as shallow waters. It was just over the border with easy access to United States.We referred to the interior ministry as medium waters. There was much travel involved going from mission to mission, and there were dangers and unknowns.Deep waters referred to extending our missionary work in Mexico to a Huasteco Indian tribe, around ten hours from the United States border in the state of San Louis Potosi, the Mountainous Jungle. The people, another culture, and another language were very closed and had rejected all missionaries who wanted to evangelize on the mountain. But the door opened for us.We had opposition from many, including our home church, remembering them saying, “Ray and Connie, you are getting in too deep; you need to stay in the colonia.” The church was happy with our missionary activity in the colonia.My book is dedicated to those who follow the Lord wholeheartedly and to those who refuse to remain in the shallow and medium waters.

A WORD TO PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTSMany families are impacted negatively by substance use disorders and other addictions. Children in those families need to be reminded that no matter how their parents may act, they themselves are of infinite worth and value. They will be empowered by learning that there is a strong, confident person living inside the body they call "me."

Why is prayer the most difficult conversation for Christians?   Imagine owning the most incredible tool that exists, and you can use it anytime, anywhere, and for anything. Wouldn’t you want to use it correctly?What is prayer?  Some say it’s talking to God, but if that statement is accurate, why does it say in Luke 11:1, “Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.” Were the disciples unable to talk? Not likely!However, prayer can challenge most people, and this author is no exception. Although she has been a Christian for more than forty years, she has also faced many obstacles when praying. But she always endeavored to honor the Heavenly Father with fervent prayer.This unique book is meant to change your life!Consider this, if the disciples who walked with Jesus wanted to learn to pray, shouldn’t every Christian also desire the same?

This story represents the struggle many children in foster care live through in a “fairytale” version, because every child deserves to feel loved.Once Upon a Time is written by Jet Haugen.

S.M.-Siobhan Murphy was brought up in a loving family environment by her parents-Peter and Molly. She realized her childhood dream of becoming a doctor having graduated from McKenna Medical College. Her romance with Patrick Piasso culminated in her marriage with him. Soon after, she faced a daunting task of balancing her professional endeavors with her family life.Patrick found it difficult to resist the overtures of another attractive woman during this turbulent period in their young married life.With each patient encounter, Siobhan learned the lessons of actual art of practicing medicine which she could never have acquired in the classrooms of her medical school. She realized that 'one-size-fits-all' approach did not work when she was confronting patients with different background and diverse mental make-up. She would have to modify her healing potion depending on each individual patient's preferences and prejudices. With every interaction, she strove to become a better physician.Then one day, she got news of advanced cancer of Molly. Did she fall apart?"MUSINGS OF S.M." describes her struggle to handle this devastating blow which befell her soon after Patrick has left her.

Gus is a very busy little dog. He does everything for his human family. Dad wants the newspaper? Gus will get it. If Grandma needs her glasses, Gus will get them. The baby needs a bottle? Gus will get it. In fact, Gus gets everything, all of the time. That is until one day-when everything changes.

The word Shattered refers to the sound akin to when someone crashes a car. Usually the windshield gets shattered or broken. I like to think of it as when domestic violence hits the household; it usually shatters the household environment or the child's world. This book was written to give the reader an insight into the subject.