Muscle and a Shovel by Michael Shank (A Must Read!)

From the Author

Your beliefs about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Almighty Father in Heaven and your church are beliefs that you hold close to your heart, and rightfully so. However, your beliefs are about to be challenged in a way that you never thought possible.

The story you are about to read is completely true in every sense. There are no exaggerations or embellishments. What you are about to read happened to me several years ago and I'm sharing it with you for one reason and one reason only. I cannot, however, reveal this reason unless you read this story from beginning to end.  If you make it to the end you'll discover the reason... and I promise you that it will be worth your time.

But let me give you a fair warning: what you are about to read might anger, frustrate and agitate your senses beyond description. This story may force you to examine the beliefs you hold so dear to your heart. This story is not for the weak-minded, nor is it for those who have their sensibilities easily offended.

Many who begin this story won't make it to the end.  Will you have the courage, the heart and the honesty of character to finish this story to its end?

Amazon Book Review:

I heard about this book from a friend and as soon as my copy arrived, I read it in two days. I could not put it down! The book tells the true story of the author and his encounter with a co-worker, which led to deep questions about everything he had believed about religion up to that point. The book chronicles a months-long search for answers and brings up just about every major question that should be asked about Christianity today.

This is so much more than one man's story though. This is not a book that one can just read and then reshelf or sell. You will be forever changed after reading this book. If you believe the Bible to be God's word, this book will make you seriously think about everything you've been told. It will probably make you very uncomfortable and maybe even mad along the way (just like the author was in his journey), but if you desire to do God's will, you will be glad you see it through to the end.
I LOVE that all of the author's questions were answered with logic and scripture. There is so much meat in this book, that you will want to read it several times and then you will want to give a copy to everyone you care about!

My husband picked it up, the day I put it down and he, too, had finished it by the end of the next day... and then made a list of people he wanted to share it with. I've never read a book this compelling before, other than the Bible itself. Muscle and a Shovel does not let you complacently read about the happenings in one man's life, it is a Bible study, it is a challenge to any Christian, no matter how much you know, to dig deeper and to really understand the full message of the Bible and to be able to give an answer to anyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is within you.

The only thing that slowed me down a little is that all the scriptures in the book were from the King James Version of the Bible. Nothing wrong with that, I'm just accustomed to more modern translations, but the Truth is still the Truth! I also really liked that at the end of the book, there is an appendix with the scripture reference for every passage from the Bible listed by chapter from the book, so that as you go back through, you can look up all the scriptures for yourself again apart from the story and let the Word speak for itself.  I really can't say enough about this book and what it stirred inside me to think more, study more, and be ready to inspire others to do the same.