Magwort & the Master

Magwort and the Master

by

Michael L. McCoy

A Greek historian named Xenophon lived and wrote 2,400 years ago. Xenophon traveled with the troops commanded by Cyrus the Younger of Persia. One of Xenophon’s writings is titled Cyropaedia, an account of Cyrus the Great’s education, discipline, doctrine and practice. Within that work is a description of how Cyrus prepared his army for war. The Greek word for meek or gentle (πραεῖς) is used twice in one paragraph in which the training of soldiers and horses is described:

“Cyrus also did this, he never let them go to the morning meal or to supper without having sweated. He led them on hunts for a sweat or he would devise games for a sweat, and again, if he had some business or other, he conducted it so they would not come back without sweating. He thought this beneficial to their meals, to their health and to their enduring affliction, for he considered hardships beneficial to their being long-suffering (meek) to one another, just as horses that endure miseries with one another stand more gently (meek) together. In any event, those who share the knowledge that they are well drilled are more noble in combat.” [ 2.1.29 ]

Magwort and the Master (2002) is a children’s book for grown-ups and a grown-ups’ story for children. The book follows the Gospel accounts of our Lord’s Life, Death, Crucifixion and Resurrection. While telling the Good News of salvation by the grace of God through faith in Christ, it gives the Biblical understanding of “meekness,” which is quite different from the world’s relatively negative perception of this virtue.

Below is a 28-minute audio recording of the 32-page book plus three readings from Scripture, the Lord’s Prayer, the Benediction and a few musical selections. It might be deemed appropriate for use as a bed-time story.

Magwort and the Master – audio recording

If you are interested in reading the book, you may do so in two ways. First, there is the free pdf book that you may read on line or download. Click on the following link for the free pdf copy.  (You may send as many copies of this pdf file out as you desire. In fact, thank you for doing so.)

Magwort and the Master – in pdf format

If you would like a bound copy, it is available through lulu.com and you may get more details and order following the link below.

Magwort and the Master – bound book