Creekbank Blog

LLL: Thoughts on Life Long Learning

  I. This week’s keyword is Legacy. It’s about investing in what matters. Paying attention to what (and who) will outlast us. II. Life Long Learning   I finished a fascinating book this week, Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance.  It’s a memoir of the problems the white working poor (aka hillbillies/rednecks/white trash) face.  More than that, it’s a love story of …

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D.W.W. Driving While White

  DWW     Driving While White Like all Americans, I’ve been stunned and confused by events of the past few months. Our country is hurting and is extremely divided. It’s easy to deny and ignore it, but that doesn’t make it not so. As part of a national discussion, we need to sit down and listen to each other. It is …

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A Fine Story: The Beard of Joseph Palmer

I recalled this wonderful story while visiting with my uncle, Bill Iles, who has worn a long beard since the late 1960’s. This article, by Stuart Holbrook, was written in the mid-20th century. Palmer is buried near the present home of my son, Terry.  On my next trip to New England, I plan to visit Palmer’s grave.    

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In the Mouth of the Panther

Max Earl Cole was buried several weeks ago. I was away and missed his funeral. Like me, he was a Dry Creek native, who attended East Beauregard High School. Max Earl was a lanky rawboned basketball player on the excellent Trojan basketball teams in the mid-60s. He was a product of two of Dry Creek’s strongest families,  The Coles and …

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It’s Friday’s and We’re Thinking about Life Long Learning

  What we’re about in 2016: 1.  Staying Curious. 2. Being Amazed. 3. Telling Stories. It’s Friday, which means it’s time to think about LLL. That’s Life Long Learning. It’s the reason I want to stay curious,discover, and share good stories. I. This week’s word is Gratitude. Here’s my favorite story on gratitude: Vance Gill, my guitar-playing Dry Creek friend …

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A Story Worth Telling: Louisiana Rain

A Word from Curt A daily goal: Stay Curious  Be Amazed. Tell Good Stories. Louisiana Rain “Rain, rain, Louisiana is your name.”   While making my rounds at the mill, an employee named Harley* enthusiastically stopped me. “Chaplain, do you remember praying with me to get a car?” Before I could reply, he continued, “My wife and I were riding …

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The Deer Hunter

The first real cool spell arrives tonight. It’s time to think about hunting. The following is the best deer hunting story I know. Read and enjoy. This story was told to me by fellow missionary, Bobby Lane (in photo with his son Shep in South Sudan).   The Deer Hunter   It’s by far and away the best deer-hunting story …

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Life Long Learners of the World: Unite!

What I’m about in 2016: 1.  Staying Curious. 2. Being Amazed. 3. Telling Stories. Most Fridays, we’ll be sending out this brief story letter with a simple purpose:  pushing all of us to be a LLL. That’s Life Long Learner. I’m 60 and have never been more excited about learning new things. To hold myself accountable (and encourage you), I’ll be sharing …

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The Creekbank Quotes Page

We love quotes. They motivate us. Correct us. Inspire us.   2016 and earlier:                                                               The following is from a neat website on passion:  http://www.glidedesign.com/25-great-passion-quotes/     25 Great Quotes …

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6 Foot Deep

A word from Curt: Emotion The best stories elicit emotion. Sometimes tears. Other times laughter. Even anger or sadness. A good story creates emotion. Today’s blog is a funny story from an unlikely location,  Dry Creek Cemetery. Enjoy. Laugh. Retell.   “Six Foot Deep” in Trouble   One of my ministries is to work with people in selecting their grave …

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A Word from Curt: Prayer

Today’s word is one I struggle with:  Prayer. I struggle with it because I get so wrapped up in my life and problems, zooming from one chore to another. Lord, teach me to pray. Amen. Reading this story (again) reminded me of the importance of prayer.     Pray One for Another   “. . .And pray one for another.” …

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Homeless in Dry Creek

A Homeless Lady And Jesus said, when you have done it unto the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me. – Matthew 25:40   When the teenager saw me, he sprinted over. “Bro. Curt, there’s a homeless lady inside the Tabernacle, and she won’t let any of us help her.” “A homeless lady in Dry Creek?” …

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Professor Cavanaugh’s Best Lecture

  A word from Curt Teacher.  There’s no higher calling.  There’s few professions that can influence as well as a dedicated teacher. The best teacher I ever met was Charles Cavanaugh. This is his story.   Professor Cavanaugh’s Best Lecture Nervously I stood in the hallway outside the Louisiana College biology department’s second floor office, waiting to see Professor Cavanaugh. …

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Thoughts on a straight-shooter and we loved him dearly

Today would be the birthday of one of my heroes, Logan Skiles. This is a story about him from Stories from the Creekbank.  Enjoy! If you have a Logan Skiles memory, please comment at the end of this story. He hit it right down the line… I nervously stood in right field as a skinny thirteen-year-old softball player. At the …

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