Showing results by author "Markus McDowell" in All Categories

Based on a true story, Onesimus is the tale of a young, unhappy slave who lived during the first century Roman Empire. The world is a highly structured society of deities, slaves, masters, prostitutes, government corruption, soldiers—with little opportunity to move out of one’s role. But he has a plan to become free and make something of himself—until he is betrayed. His response leads him on a path of danger, deceit, and discovery until he comes into contact with a famous leader of a young new religion based on the Jewish faith. What he finds will test his will and his courage, and ...

There are hundreds of passages about prayer in the Bible: teachings about prayer, mentions of prayer, and, of course, actual prayers. These are excellent resources for learning about the types of prayers, styles, content, when and where, and so much more. This series, Praying Through the Bible, examines each instance of a prayer passage, looking at the historical and cultural background and the context, the meaning of the prayer, and then offering a brief idea of how it might be used as a model. Each short study is also perfect for a brief analysis, a personal devotional study, or a group ...

A captivating historical fiction saga that traces the indomitable spirit of “Desert” Steve Ragsdale, a man who helped shape the American West. In 1921, after losing his Kansas cotton farm to an inability to pay the taxes, Steve ventures into California’s desert with a bold vision. Defying a harsh land and no roads except ruts in the sands, he founds the town of Desert Center—a beacon of resilience amid heat and hardship. From his early days in Coffeyville, Kansas, confronting outlaws, to navigating the Great Depression, World War II, and the rise of Eagle Mountain Mine, Steve’s ...

Enjoy these six winning short stories from the Riversong Short Story Contest, 2022. Unique, quirky, thought-provoking stories in various contemporary genres. The contest and volume was run and edited by Neela Tudurí-Kłepfisch, editor and writer at Sulis International Press. A panel of six publishers, editors, authors, and book reviewers reviewed more than 30 finalists to choose the six winners. “Redemption in the Thorny Thicket” by Sean Anderson. “6EQUJ4, Thank You Very Much!” by Robert McDermott** “Coping with Covid-19 lockdown in Pretoria” by Nape Motana “So Rude” by ...

This preliminary study explores the concept and practice of prayer found in the writings of six major Stoic philosophers from the ancient world: Zeno, Cleanthes, Chrysippus, Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. Placing these writers in their context within the evolution of Stoic philosophy, and in their socio-religious and historical context, McDowell then characterizes the nature, purpose, and practices of Stoic prayer. A brief comparison with prayer from the New Testament closes the study.

This essay is an overview of the ways in which the Old Testament books of wisdom, poetry, and Writings are used in the New Testament. The OT Writings are rarely quoted in the NT, but the many themes are found therein. The use of OT Wisdom books (Job, Eccl) is examined in the Gospels, Pauline Letters, and other letters separately. The use of OT poetry is seen in the frequent quotation and use of Psalms and hymns. The essays includes an extensive bibliography.

Enriching Your Prayers is a key companion to McDowell’s expansive project, Praying Through the Bible. With the goal of studying every prayer in the Bible, this series explores biblical prayer in their original contexts, and then draws meaning from them for the purpose of expanding and enriching our own prayer practice. This book delves into each of the nine prayer types found in the Bible, studying their structure, content, and purpose, with examples of each.

This book contains a brief examination of the prayers found in the books of the Old Testament known as the books of Wisdom, Poetry, and Writings. The prayers (and any mention of prayer) in each category and book are analyzed in terms of the type of prayer, content, and structure. The Old Testament books that are examined are Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Psalms, Lamentations, Ruth, Esther, and the Apocryphal/Deuterocanonical books called the Testament of Job and Additions to Esther. A bibliography is included for further study.

Chaos rattles our arrogance, shakes loose the dust, breaks rigor mortis. In chaos, you find out who you are—what matters, what you fear, what you love…. Here is a collection of nine short stories about chaos in multiple genres: historical, speculative, stream-of-consciousness, poetic, literary, and more.

A collection of short stories about the extremes we often find ourselves in—sometimes of our own making. Each story uses the adverb “so” in its title, emphasizing the extreme function of the following adjectives (tired, snowy, long, alive, dense, rude). McDowell uses fantasy, literary fiction, historical fiction, and speculative fiction genres to capture his explorations of the human experience.

Dr. Markus McDowell writes multigenre fiction and nonfiction, travel reviews, edits books for other authors, and ghostwrites for nonauthors. He has taught at colleges and universities in the US and Europe and spoken at conferences and retreats around the world. He lives on a 40′ motoryacht in Southern California and travels half the time. When he is not writing or editing, he enjoys hiking, fishing, reading, drinking Scottish whisky and smoking Cuban cigars. He shares a birthday with his favorite author, Ernest Hemingway. Get bonus content on PatreonSupport this show http://...

Mortals As They Walk is a riveting sci-fi thriller that delves into the ethical quagmire of genetic engineering. Pate Williamson, a once-promising tech innovator now living on the streets, is recruited for a secretive project promising riches—but at a cost. Eris, a woman grappling with the loss of her family and child, joins the same experiment, seeking answers to her past. Meanwhile, Salim, a teenager raised in a carefully curated lie, discovers his true identity as a product of this very project, making him a target in a dangerous game. Spanning from 2006 to 2038, their stories ...

Are your prayers boring, impoverished, and repetitious? Do you want to prayer more effectively, more often? Do you want your prayers to be richer, fuller, and more meaningful? Dr. McDowell uses his extensive experience in researching, writing, and teaching about prayer to demonstrate how our prayers can be all of those things. Analysis of biblical prayers, stories about real-life practices, and the presentation of a variety of styles and models of prayer will help you to find the practice of prayer that engages you where you are, and, through that, glorifies God. After all, as Dr. McDowell ...

To and Fro Upon the Earth is a hauntingly beautiful debut novel that explores the human spirit’s struggle for meaning amidst chaos. Jay, a man released after a decade of confinement, steps into a world both familiar and foreign, grappling with loss and the fragments of a life left behind. His journey unfolds through bus trips to unknown destinations, desolate deserts, a storm-ravaged fishing vessel, and surreal visions that blur the lines between reality and dream. From the bustling success of a businessman to the perilous fight for survival at sea, Jay’s story is a puzzle with missing ...

Most of us never had anyone teach us how to pray. We mimicked what we heard from others. Sometimes this leads us to a repetitive and even shallow prayer life.Yet the Bible contains hundreds of passages about prayer, with a lot of richness and variety. This third volume of the Praying through the Bible helps us enrich our own prayers by studying those found in the Bible.Each chapter contains the text of prayer passage, followed by a study of its background, an exploration of its meaning, and an application of what we learn.

A sample collection of previously published short that will entertain and perhaps disturb you. Author Markus McDowell explores his favorite themes about of life, death, suffering, and chaos. His characters find themselves in such chaotic situations…how would you respond?

As a Mere Breath: Short Stories by Markus McDowell is a compelling and thought-provoking collection that delves into the intricate tapestry of human experience, resilience, and redemption. Nine evocative tales offer a unique lens on life’s challenges and triumphs. Drawing inspiration from Psalm 39:5, which reflects on the fleeting nature of existence, the book opens with the haunting “Fishhooks,” a metaphorical exploration of being ensnared by life’s burdens, followed by stories like “You Made Your Bed…,” a poignant look at neglect and self-discovery, • “Train Wreck,” a ...

Developed through years of teaching the method in church classes and bible studies, this ebook describes a three-part method of Bible study that anyone can use. Through careful reading of the text, the use of some dictionaries and encyclopedias, and some common sense, anyone can learn to engage in sound biblical interpretation. The method draws on three standard approaches: behind the text (historical and cultural), in the text (literary), and in front of the text (the worldview and attitude of the reader). Bringing these three together provides a rich and clear method of biblical ...

This book examines the prayer texts in the collection of ancient documents known as the Apostolic Fathers, written during the early second century. The book begins with an overview of the Apostolic Fathers and of the prayers found therein. Appendices include every prayer passage in the nine documents. The core of the book explores the function of prayer in the letters of the collection (1 Clement, The Letter of Ignatius, Polycarp to the Philippians, and the Martyrdom of Polycarp). Each letter includes an introduction (authorship, date, form, genre, sources, purpose, and theme), followed by ...