Jonah and the whale? Heard that. David and Goliath? Know them. Noah and the ark? So it rained. . . Get ready for wild, wacky, and weird stories you'd be surprised to find in Scripture. But beware: It's not your parents' storybook! "God is infinitely creative, and Dan Cooley is obviously paying attention. These freshly told tales will get your kids hooked on the Bible!" - Melody Carlson, award-winning author of The Gold & Honey Bible and fifty-plus other Bible storybooks and books for children
Mostly, I'm a story teller. I get to tell stories as a pastor and a dad, which is a terrific way to live. Writing is harder for me then speaking, as it's difficult for me to think with my mouth closed. Along with a beautiful wife and four terrific kids, I have a Jeep. People with Jeeps are more fun. Here's the rest of the scoop:
Family: I met my wife JoLynn in college and she has given me four wonderful children: Recently married Megan, and Amanda, Micah, and Caleb.
Education: I went to a bunch of schools (fun, but not too productive...) finally getting my life together and graduating from Criswell in Dallas and Moody Grad School in Chicago.
Personal Stuff: As a missionary kid, I've always known who Jesus was, but it wasn't until college that I really began to look at how He fit into my life. Discovering the answer has been a mysterious, exhilarating, long (and sometimes difficult) journey, but I could not imagine a life without Christ.
Outside of Church: I love eating, archery, rappelling, fixing cars (too often), spending time with friends (never enough) and raising my children. My favorite books include Mere Christianity, A Man Called Intrepid, and Blue Like Jazz. A few of my favorite movies are Napoleon Dynamite (ughhhhhhhhh), Princess Bride (Inconceivable!), Shadowlands, and Blues Brothers (We're on a mission from God!) You have to check out our church website www.CottonwoodChurch.net. Come see us when you are in NM!
Publishing History: Some of my articles include: "Reflections" for Christian Current, and "Ghosts of Conflicts Past" and "Preaching the Word" for Leadership Journal available online at www.leadershipjournal.net. "Church vs. Itself, Calling a halt to the contest Satan enjoys so much," is a chapter I wrote in Urgent Care: Spiritual Warfare for Christianity Today in 2007. You can find it online at www.BuildingChurchLeaders.com. Bizarre Bible Stories is my only book to date. It became a finalist at The Word Guild Canadian Christian Writing Awards in 2005, which awarded me and future publishers cool little stickers to put on the covers.
You can follow my writing at http://www.danielcooley.com
