Creekbank Blog

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 …

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 …

  “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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

    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 …

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 …

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, …

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 …

“The story of Joseph is like the buffet at Golden Corral. There’s so much to choose from.”   There are many outstanding characters in the Bible. In the Old Testament, there is no one who shines brighter than a man named Joseph. His life is truly a “riches to rags to riches” story as found in Genesis 37-50.   We’ll …

T.O.B.   I’m part of a Friday morning Bible study led by Warren Morris. Warren is the former LSU player who hit the famous walk-off home run to win the 1996 College World Series.   He is a great teacher and leader. Most of all, Warren is one of the humblest men I know. From time to time, he’ll share …

This story, written years ago, is still my favorite Christmas story. Enjoy and Merry Christmas to you and your family.  -Curt Iles   The Best Christmas Gift   “The only true gift is a portion of yourself.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson.             With sweaty palms, I wheel my pickup onto Eleanor Andrews Road. I feel as if it’s the first …

    “In everything, give thanks.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18   It’s always been one of my favorite stories, and I can’t think of a better time to share it than at Thanksgiving.   The only character in this story is a man named Vance. He’s one of my favorite Dry Creek friends. He told me this story years ago and …