Creekbank Blog

Louisiana Rain: a short post

Louisiana Rain A word from Curt:  Prayer. It’s a powerful word because it links us to a powerful God. The following story occurred this week during my chaplain work at Roy O. Martin’s two mills. Enjoy. Stay curious. Be amazed. Tell a story   While making my rounds at the Chopin mill, an employee named Harley* stopped me. “Chaplain, do …

Read More »

A Tall Pine Knot Pile: Thoughts on Earthly Treasure

Dry Creek’s finest and biggest pine knot pile in the yard of my friends, Mark and Kari Miller. The following is a short sad story on how I lost my own pile. Earthly treasures, pine knot piles, and 401 (K) accountsx All of a sudden, the February wind picked up and turned out of the south. Instantly what had been …

Read More »

Louisiana Evacuees: You may be displaced but never misplaced.

Today’s blog post comes from our new book,  Trampled Grass. Learn how you can download a free copy or buy your autographed copy at www.creekbank.net This story,  “Misplaced” has been on my mind all week. These words are so pertinent during this time of crisis in Louisiana. I am a refugee torn from my land, Cast off to travel this …

Read More »

Keep on Paddling

  From Stories from the Creekbank by Curt Iles   Keep on Paddling Our canoe drifted into the swift cold waters of the White River. All of a sudden we’d left the calm waters of the narrow Buffalo River and now were paddling furiously upstream in a raging, much-wider river. Frank Bogard and I were at the end of a …

Read More »

A Love Story: Running Through The Lobby

Today is DeDe and my 37th wedding anniversary. Wow. This story, from Deep Roots, expresses how I feel after all of these years.   Running through the Lobby: 8 short minutes; 30 years ago It’s nearly midnight– Mountain Daylight Time on the last night of a great Writers’ Conference. I’m sitting on the floor in the Marriott Denver lobby. (I’m …

Read More »

A Good Epitaph

This is a story from my first book, Stories from the Creekbank. It concerns a memorable person from Galveston, Texas. The plaque mentioned is at sidewalk level atop the sea wall.  A Good Epitaph to Have. . .   Have you ever thought about what epitaph you’d like to have? Recently as I walked along the seawall in Galveston, I …

Read More »

Holding the Rope: 3 Requests

Thanks to each of you that pray for our life and ministry. Here are three prayer requests for this week: Beginning Tuesday, I’ll be camp missionary at Piney Woods Baptist Encampment near Corrigan, Texas. Pray that God will plant missions seeds through the stories and pictures I share. DeDe begins a new teaching job this week. Pray that the Lord …

Read More »

Curious/Amazed/Shared

You’ll enjoy this You Tube video of our whale watching trip.  Wow! The Week that Was My 2016 mantra is simple: Stay Curious. Be Amazed. Share about it.   It’s pretty simple. It’s who I am. At age 60, I am committed to remaining a curious soul.  I also wish to be amazed by the world around me.  Amazed. Not …

Read More »

Funny Things in Church

    Funny Things in Church It seems often that hilarious moments occur during the most serious and solemn events. Many of the funniest things I’ve ever seen have happened in church. I guess it is because a great part of my life has been spent in the pews, and I have this really bad habit of watching people. I’ve …

Read More »

What is Success? Most Likely to Succeed

This post is from my first book, Stories from the Creekbank. Enjoy!   Most Likely to Succeed It was Saturday in the middle of the busy summer camp season. After a great week of youth camp, I was enjoying lunch with some of our summer staff. Across the dining hall, a group from East Beauregard High was having their ten-year …

Read More »

Parking in the Woods

This is a hidden gem from our first book,  Stories from the Creekbank. Enjoy! Mrs. Helen Every season at Dry Creek is beautiful in its own way. The winter months are no exception. Winter group campfires are my favorite event at the prayer garden. My favorite campfire story is about a lady called Mrs. Helen. Mrs. Helen came with a …

Read More »

The Week that Was

Looking back over the week Wet footprints I walk on the porch where six generations of my people have stepped. I’m at the Old House on the edge of Crooked Bayou Swamp. It’s a place of solitude as well as loneliness. I need both in my life. It’s where I go back to get my feet back on the ground. …

Read More »

Keep your Hooks Sharp

Reas Weeks   I never knew Reas Weeks . . . but I sure know some good stories about him. Reas (pronounced “Reese”) was a bachelor in Dry Creek who lived on the bank of Bundick Creek. He lived way back in the woods, never owned a vehicle, and supported himself by fishing, hunting, and gardening. Mr. Frank Miller always …

Read More »

The Outdoor Life: Be Still and Know

Be Still and Know On a beautiful Spring Saturday, my three sons and I went to work on the nature trail at the camp. As we hiked through the woods with our saw, pruning shears, and other gear, we were filled with the camaraderie of boys and dads in the woods. My youngest son, Terry, who was four, waded through …

Read More »