I am blessed with many wonderful friends.  Consistently, they humble and amaze me when I see their formal credentials in black in white.  (I’m just glad these fine folks will talk to me about life, parenthood, and what’s for dinner!)

Allan Hugh Cole, Jr.

My friend Allan has a new book coming out soon, and I encourage you to visit his website and check out all of his wonderful resources.  From managing grief, to soothing anxiety, to connecting with the spiritual lives of children, his body of work provides insight into some of the most important ideas in the human experience.

From his “Bio” page:

Allan Hugh Cole Jr., a noted author, serves on the faculty of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, TX.  He is appointed to the Nancy Taylor Williamson Distinguished Chair of Pastoral Care.  He holds several academic degrees, including the Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from Davidson College, the Master of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, the Master of Science (social work) from Columbia University, and the Doctor of Philosophy from Princeton Theological Seminary.

The author or editor of six books, he is the founding editor of the Journal of Childhood and Religion, an on-line publication of Sopher Press.  For more information, see www.childhoodandreligion.com.  He also serves on the editorial boards of two journals, Pastoral Psychology and Insights: The Faculty Journal of Austin Seminary.

He is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), having served congregations in New York.  Currently, he holds membership in Grace Presbytery (Dallas, Ft. Worth, Northeast Texas).

He is married to Tracey Cole and they have two daughters.

A Spiritual Life: Perspectives from Poets, Prophets, and Preachers (Westminster John Knox Press), will be published in early 2011 and is available for pre-order.  It includes essays by Gail Godwin, Sheri Reynolds, Greg Garrett, Lauren Winner, Will Willimon, Marjorie Thompson, Michael Lindvall, Philip Wogaman, Ted Wardlaw, Homer Ashby, Deborah Block, Elizabeth Damewood Gaucher, Ismael Garcia, Albert Hsu, Brad Braxton, Donald Capps, Kerry Egan, Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, Richard Osmer, Deborah van Deusen Hunsinger, Michael Jinkins, Elizabeth Liebert, Stephanie Paulsell, and Allan Hugh Cole Jr. 
http://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Life-Perspectives-Prophets-Preachers/dp/0664234925/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1284090393&sr=1-6.