Curt Iles

I write to have influence and impact through well-told stories of my Louisiana Pineywoods life.

The Gratitude-Filled Life

Proverbs for the day: The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.  Proverbs 20:12 Every blessing we have is from God, including our five senses.  Thanking Him for these things are part of living the Gratitude-Filled Life. My vision and hearing are not what they were when I was a younger man, but I’m so …

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Is Ingratitude a sin?

Western Louisiana is crisscrossed with beautiful creeks and rivers. This is Cherry Winche Creek that winds through SW Rapides and Allen Parishes. Thoughts on the Gratitude-Filled Life I’ve been convicted that “A poor memory is the root of the sin of ingratitude.” We forget the limitless blessings we have from God. I want to live the Gratitude-Filled Life beginning with …

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The Gratitude-Filled Life

A word to live by: Gratitude. Today, I’m thinking about gratitude. It’s such a powerful word. It’s more than simply being thankful for one event or blessing. It is an attitude that should permeate every second of our lives. It’s an attitude of gratitude. A thankfulness that flows out of the heart and examines every detail of our lives in …

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Holding the Rope: Gratitude

Tall Pine

              I’m preaching Homecoming at Dry Creek Baptist Church today. Our text will be the wonderful 100th Psalm. Wow. It is rich.   A Psalm for giving thanks. 100 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! 2     Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! 3 Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made …

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Saturday Shots

    A word from Curt Pictures. A picture is worth . . . a lot. Here are recent images and sketches from the Creek. Enjoy. Pass on. Tell stories.                   You Tube video of Snowdon jamming with his own cigar box guitar.   It’s honeysuckle time in Louisiana.         …

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Do you have a Life Plan?

One of the things I’m hungry to learn about is having a written plan to guide my life, decisions, and time. It’s called a Life Plan. I call my personal Life Plan “Ten Pins.”                         This plan, which I’ve used for over ten years, continues to grow and evolve. …

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My Grandpas’ Boots: Upcoming Children’s Picture Book

A word from Curt           This story is taken from a chapter in As the Crow Flies and adapted for an illustrated children’s book.   Curt Iles/MY GRANDPAS’ BOOTS Copyright 2017 by Creekbank Stories and Curt Iles                                                           1 My name is Abe, and this is the story of my scuffed boots.  This pair of boots are …

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High Stakes Gambling

The report on Volkswagon’s infamous emissions scandal was in the news again last week.  The company is being forced to buy back VWs, repair the emissions controls, pay large fines, and not pass go/collect $100.00. Seriously, it is a stain on a company that has traditionally been respected. The report said, “VW fails on high stakes gamble.” High stakes gamble. …

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Holding the Rope: Ask and Pray

As always, we want our friends and followers knowing how to pray for us. First of all, our hearts are so full of gratitude. Gratitude is one of my 6 Plus Words for 2016. It’s a grand word. Here are needs and opportunities for the coming week: I have two speaking events next weekend.  On Sat. April 30, I’ll be …

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Two Enduring Lessons.

Pa and Doten

One taught me how to live . . . The other taught me how to die.   They’ve both been gone for nearly half a century. I was seven and ten, respectively when my paternal great grandparents died. We called them Pa and Doten, and they were center of our family’s solar system. They each left an enduring lesson that …

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On Being “The Man”

Tall Pine

From the Curt Iles book,  Deep Roots.  www.creekbank.net  Readers are given permission to share this story as long as proper credit is given.   You’re the Man   I’d never heard of the Broken Wings Award until recently. I haven’t met helicopter pilot Edwin Steve Coleman, one of the few two-time winners of the award. I believe I’d like Chief …

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The Sweet Smell of Honeysuckle

                                                                A honeysuckle bouquet from Crooked Bayou Swamp   Honeysuckle time is when I always think of Mrs. Eleanor Andrews. Today is her birthday. Enjoy this story in her …

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The Crow and the Peacock

A Word from Curt This fun story features one of my favorite Dry Creekers, Uncle Joe Watson. Listen to an audio version of The Crow and the Peacock read by Curt. The Crow and the Peacock I was glad when they said unto me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.”   As I write this, we are …

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April 6: It’s Whippoorwill Day

    It’s April 6. Whip-poor-will day. Let’s go to Dry Creek. Enjoy this reader favorite from our third short story collection, Wind in the Pines.     Whip-poor-will Day Hear that lonesome whip-poor-will, he sounds too blue to fly. It seems he’s lost the will to live, I’m so lonesome I could cry . . . -Hank Williams, Sr. …

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