The Way of the Father: Lessons from My Dad, Truths about God

While not all of us may have had a great dad here on earth, we all are blessed with the guarantee of a great Heavenly Father who loves us more than we could ever imagine. That is the journey that Michael W. Smith takes the reader by using the amusing life lessons from his dad, Paul Smith. I am blessed to have a dad like Paul so it was encouraging to read these stories and be amused by the care his dad had for him. I feel similar. The book is wonderful because it reminds me that I can strive to be a great dad to my two daughters but I can never be perfect. That isn't the point. The point is that we all are supposed to be looking to our great Abba Father who makes all things perfect. It is a perfection that can only come from a good, good Father. Thank you Michael and Robert for sharing such winsome stories and the gift of this great book.

I purchased the book from Amazon weeks before its release and also was given access to the Audio book, read by Michael W. Smith himself, from K-Love. I enjoyed listening to Smitty tell this story himself, in his own words. I've been a fan of his for almost 30 years. If your a fan of his or not I would highly recommend this book. Smitty tells such a great story of his life and his relationship with his father.

In Michael W. Smith's Way of the Father, Michael describes his Dad, Paul Smith, and how his Dad helped him grow in faith and love with his heavenly Father.At one point in the book, Michael writes "You immediately got a sense of safety and security, simply because he was there." This sentence was written about Paul Smith, but it could have easily been written about God too. This comparison between a loving Dad and a loving God is weaved throughout the book.For anyone who has or had a loving Dad - this comparison is often self-evident and a great reminder. But Michael also shares how his Dad can be a powerful illustration for people who didn't grow up with a Dad in their lives or those who had a Dad who let them down. In Way of the Father, Michael describes what a loving, family-first, God-honoring father is supposed to look like and gives us all a model to aspire to in our own lives.As I was reading the book, I couldn't help feel like I was sitting in Michael W. Smith's living room, listening to him laugh and tell stories about his Dad, growing up in West Virginia and later Tennessee, and how his Dad continually poured into him and helped point him to a loving God and Savior.While most people have never heard of Paul Smith; Way of the Father is a loving testament of how the life of one man can have an amazing impact on those around him and especially on his children, grandchildren and generations to come.

I know Michael W. Smith as a very talented musician. Now I know writing flows as easily as his songs. This was my first book of his but not my last. It was an easy fast read. You cover pages without realizing it. He has woven parts of his life seamlessly into his Dad's so the reader knows how close the bond was between them. I liked the way he spoke of his Dad's dementia while still seeing him as his father. Michael does not hold back from speaking his faith but never does he use it as a baseball bat. However If that really bothers you then it is not for you. Other then that, if you had a great Dad, you might want to buy two copies, one for each of you. Women can relate to this too. If you did not relate well with your Dad or perhaps had no Dad, you can still learn from it. When he speaks of his faith, he speaks of God, the Ultimate Father for everyone and leaves that road sign toward hope for anyone who wants to choose it.

Although I am writing this on Allan's iPad.....this is Sue Weaver doing the review. I have always loved Michael W. Smith and his music, but this has been a truly wonderful biography of his dad being such a wonderful, fatherly, and devoted family man, who always kept his number one focus on Christ- that resulting in his being an amazing example and role model. An example as Christ follower, father, grandfather, husband, and ethical, hard-working employee. I can personally understand the loss of parents, so I had many memories brought to the forefront of my mind. I truly loved the way Michael expresses his own love for Jesus and his walking with God, so faithfully. I certainly recommend this book, his music, and concerts!!!I am a nearly compulsive avid reader (and writer), but I haven't found such devotion expressed by any other Christian author, as I found in this book by Michael W. Smith. Enjoy!

Read this book today. What I really love about Michael's books are the way they are written: very easy-to-read, like you're having a real conversation with a friend.Like his previous "A Simple Blessing: The Extraordinary Power of an Ordinary Prayer", this book is chaukled full of wisdom surrounded by Scripture.A joy to read. A joy to see where his heart is - continually pointing to Abba Father. Not about accolades or fame; rather all about meeting people where they are at, and letting God use us to play a small role in showing them Him, His love, and the Kingdom that is there's if they only accept Him.Love his sharing of lessons learned; of learning from his father (Paul) and Father (Abba). I want to be like them, and love well.You'll love the insights here. Fantastic read!

Fast read, couldn't put it down! I have always loved Michael W Smith's music. Very interesting to actually read about his passion for Jesus, family and mankind as a whole. The book makes me feel like I know him, Wonderful Ambassador for Christ.

A great singer and author