Resurrection “In the pines, in the pines, where the sun never shines.” -Traditional Southern Folk Song A month ago, I walked through my tree farm in Dry Creek. A hot control fire had recently roared through killing small trees, bushes, and briars. All that was left was a dead barren landscape. This prescribed burn, set by my brother-in-law …
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I Smell a Rat
I Smell a Rat New York City is being overrun by rats. An estimated 2 million rats live in this city of 8.4 million. Some researchers claim there are more rats than people in NYC, but that’s probably an exaggeration. Whatever the number, NYC has a rat problem. Mayor Eric Adams has made rat control a priority of his administration. …
Read More »Shawls in a Cold Church
Shawls I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord. Psalm 122:1 I grew up in a cold small country church, and I now attend a cold large church. The Dry Creek Baptist Church of my childhood was a wooden clapboard building with not even a hint of insulation. The …
Read More »Elmer’s Hand
I apologize for the recent problems with our e-mail server. I’d love to hear your comments and input at creekbank.stories@gmail.com Elmer’s Hand There are some people who make you smile when you think of them. Elmer Conner was one of those people. I can take you to the exact spot where I met him. It’s the near the …
Read More »Thoughts on Curt Lies
Curt Lies My last name is often misspelled. People want to put another s in it as in Isles. Like the Islands. Sometimes they want to insert a double ss at the end. The worst troublemaker is that a capital I and lowercase l look identical on a laptop. No one wants to be known as Curt Ills. But I …
Read More »Please Don’t Take My Gas Stove
Please don’t take my Gas Stove! I’ve read with interest an effort by the US Consumer Product Commission to ban gas stoves. I’m always alarmed by the government’s long-armed reach into our lives. Especially when it concerns our homes. I don’t know if “A man’s home is his castle” is a law, but it should be. Before talking about gas …
Read More »Where Everyone is your Uncle or Aunt
“Where Everyone is your Uncle or Aunt” I grew up in a rural community where it seemed every adult was my uncle or aunt. I knew they couldn’t all be kin, although they seemed to be. They’re two of the sweetest words in the English language: Uncle. Aunt. In Dry Creek, these terms of respect were given to our …
Read More »Patterans
A Patteran for others to follow. I’ve always been fascinated with Gypsies. There are so many stories, tales, and legends about these traveling people. My favorite story is about patterans. Gypsies (known as the Roma in Europe) had a unique method of communicating with fellow travelers. At a crossroads, Gypsies would build a small pattern of twigs, leaves, or grass. …
Read More »What is Class?
What is Class? “Class can walk with Kings and keep its virtue and talk with crowds and keep the common touch. Everyone is comfortable with the person who has class.” -Ann Landers I’ve been thinking about class this week. It’s such a fine word, and it’s a fine trait. The Oxford Dictionary defines class as “Showing stylish excellence.” I find …
Read More »Moses’ Baskets
A few years ago DeDe and I spent time in the country of South Africa. There were several things that affected us deeply on this trip. It was in the middle of their AIDS epidemic, and we saw death up close and personal. There were fresh graves everywhere. I’ll never forget visiting the homes of men and women just waiting …
Read More »Tarnished Trophies
I grew up in a wonderful basketball culture at East Beauregard High School. From the early 60s when the school was opened until the mid-70s, were the heyday of basketball for the school which I attended for all of my education. It’s the same school I later returned to as a coach, teacher, and principal. There was a fine …
Read More »Joseph on Forgiveness: Part 4
Joseph on Forgiveness Part 4 Folks ask, “When did Joseph forgive his brothers?” The rational answer is that this forgiveness occurred years later when the brothers show up in Egypt. However, the forgiveness was even now taking place after arriving in Egypt. . Here’s why: a person full of unforgiveness and bitterness will never be described as “The …
Read More »Joseph: Trustworthiness
Trustworthiness: Lesson 3 on Joseph “Joseph got in prison, but prison didn’t get in him.” -Chuck Swindoll When we last saw our hero, Joseph, he had been framed for attempted rape by his bosses’ wife, the evil Mrs. Potiphar. When Potiphar returns that evening, his wife is waiting, Joseph’s cloak in hand, screaming bloody murder. Her accusation is worth noting, …
Read More »Joseph: A big word called Integrity
Joseph: Part 2 Integrity The best definition of Integrity I’ve seen is by author John Maxwell: “Integrity is who you are when no one looking, and what you’re willing to stand up for even if you’re standing alone.” Joseph’s Old Testament story reveals these maxims. If you missed part one of the story, “The Lord was with Joseph”, read it …
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