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

by Michael W. Smith, Robert Noland (With)

Overview

Grammy Award winner Michael W. Smith’s The Way of the Father offers a deeply personal reflection on his father Paul Smith’s legacy and its profound effect on every area of his life. Through the life and lens of his earthly dad, the multi-platinum selling Christian artist gives glimpses of a Father in Heaven that anyone can approach and experience.

Michael W. Smith, multi-platinum artist, celebrated songwriter, producer, best-selling author, and acclaimed actor, himself a father of five adult children and grandfather of sixteen, calls upon his humble experiences of growing up in a small West Virginia town to share his father’s story. Each chapter identifies a quality and characteristic of his dad that came out of an obedient and sacrificial life, committed to serving his Abba Father, including: ​​

• Finding truth in tragedy
• Loving unconditionally
• Persevering through pain
• Bringing righteousness to the world
• Influencing and inspiring generations
• Discovering identity and approval in Christ

Paul Smith was a familiar face in the crowd at Michael W. Smith’s concerts over the years. A kind and joyful man who would sing, dance, and worship to the singer’s countless number one hits, with his countenance beaming brighter than the spotlights on the stage, Paul would often introduce himself to those nearby and talk about how proud he was of his son. From the artist’s early days as a struggling musician in Nashville to his death in 2015 (the year his son’s album sales surpassed 15 million), Paul was always Michael’s biggest fan.

Michael shares how his dad inspired and encouraged him using biblical principles and virtues. Now, Michael passes on these same truths through stories, testimonies, origins of songs, and personal insights from his family life and thirty-five plus years of touring as a Christian artist. He hopes that by sharing his father’s legacy, readers will come to find that no matter who our earthly parents have been in our lives, our Abba Father will never fail us.

The Way of the Father will likewise challenge readers in their faith journeys so they will one day hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have fought the good fight, run the race, and have been found faithful”—just like Paul Smith heard on the day he was called home to be with his Father.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781954201026
Publisher:	K-LOVE
Publication date:	05/18/2021
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	1,062,103
Product dimensions:	5.10(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Michael W. Smith, a multi-platinum recording artist, has won three Grammy Awards, forty-five Dove Awards, an American Music Award, and has sold more than fifteen million albums. He has also given back to the global community, having raised funds to battle AIDS in Africa alongside U2’s Bono; started Rocketown, a safe haven for young people in Tennessee to meet and find hope; and has helped to improve more than 70,000 children’s lives through Compassion International. With a career spanning more than four decades, Smith has also starred in two films and written fourteen books, including a children’s book series. He lives with his wife, Debbie, in Franklin, Tennessee. They have five adult children and sixteen grandchildren.

Robert Noland spent ten years as a touring musician, songwriter, and producer in Christian music and then twenty years running a para-church ministry where he first began writing Christian resources. Since 2014, he has become a best-selling author, writer, and creative consultant based outside of Franklin, Tennessee.

Table of Contents

Introduction - Dancing in the Aisle

The Fathers Legacy 1

Chapter 1 That's My Son!

The Father's Heart 5

Chapter 2 Curveballs and Swing Shifts

The Father's Excellence 15

Chapter 3 The Marshall Plane Crash

The Father's Grace 29

Chapter 4 Who's That Girl?

The Father's Faithfulness 41

Chapter 5 Never Met a Stranger

The Father's Invitation 53

Chapter 6 Loving on the Brokenhearted

The Father's Rescue 63

Chapter 7 A Profound Presence

The Father's Community 73

Chapter 8 Go Get 'Em!

The Father's Call 91

Chapter 9 If There's Any Good in Me

The Father's Love 103

Chapter 10 Walking Down This Dusty Road

The Father's Strength 115

Chapter 11 Not an Event, but an Experience

The Father's Righteousness 127

Chapter 12 Choirs and Crooners

The Father's Conversation 141

Chapter 13 Sugar Cookies and Wiffleball

The Father's Inheritance 155

Chapter 14 I Release You

The Father's Home 167

Chapter 15 You Are a Masterpiece

The Father's Offer 179

Acknowledgments 189

About the Authors 191