1853: First Christmas in Dry Creek

First Christmas in Dry Creek J.J. Miller had set up camp where he had a good view of the surrounding area. There were no signs of any settlers in the last mile he’d come, and he had scouted down to the nearby creek and seen no recent signs of human habitation. It was December 24, 1853 and he didn’t expect trouble on Christmas Eve, but a stranger in these woods couldn’t be too careful....

The Warm Glow of Giving

The Warm Glow of Giving It’s the kind of December day Louisiana is famous for: cold, foggy, with a thick humidity that chills you to the bottom of your toes. Parking my truck at the Hope Center, I feel kind of like the weather. I didn’t sleep good last night and my “battery needs re-charging.”  I wipe my boots on the back porch mat before fumbling with a balky doorknob. It finally...

"Medic" A Christmas story from Dec. 1944:Battle of the Bulge

MEDIC! This is a different type of story from what I normally write. It was featured in a Christmas compilation called  The Write Before Christmas. By Curt Iles “Medic. Medic.” Nazi sniper Unerfeldewebel Franz Schmidt didn’t know any English, but in the case of the nearby wounded American soldier, he didn’t need to. The man’s anguished cries were beyond words. Medic. Help. It...

Christmas Jelly… a reader’s favorite

From now until Christmas we’ll be featuring stories about this wonderful time of the year.  My prayer is that you and your family will enjoy a wonderful Christmas, and you’ll feel the personal presence of Jesus, the King of all Kings. Christmas Jelly From Stories from the Creekbank Copyright 2000 by Curt Iles and Creekbank Stories “The only true gift is a portion of...

Betting on the Saints

Betting on The Saints: Thoughts on 60 inch TVs, “Cryptkeeper” Tattoos, and Louisiana Rednecks It’s a scary combination: a bet, a case of beer, Louisiana rednecks*… and the New Orleans Saints. It sounds like a sure enough formula for trouble for any day of the week. *First of all a disclaimer: “Redneck” is not an offensive term where I come from. The first time my laptop’s...