The Art of Encouragement!

Stay Curious Be Amazed at Life  Tell Remarkable Stories A Word from Curt   The 5 books that have most shaped my life. I encourage you to have a reading list for 2018.  I hope you include in this list what I call your Life Book List. These are the books that occupy a special place on your bookshelf and …

  A Pineywoods Manifesto: Thoughts on the Full Life I’m writing an e-book for my four grandsons. It’s also for young men who have no male role model to teach them these simple but essential life skills. Today’s chapter is entitled “Shake Like a Man.” Shake like a Man When I was a young teenager, Tubby and Agnes King moved to …

A Word from Curt We’re on a journey and our map is: To stay curious. Continue to be amazed at life. Share Remarkable* Stories with our friends and readers.   *A remarkable sound: a dueling duet between a Cardinal and Mockingbird in our backyard. I wonder how we’d react if we’d never heard the songs of these classic Southern songsters? In …

  A word from Curt We have a special offer for you to own the three-book Westport Trilogy. It follows Joe and Eliza Moore through The Wayfaring Stranger, A Good Place, and the final book, As the Crow Flies. Each book is a standalone novel but they are best read in order.  This week, you can get all three books …

  Storms don’t create character; they reveal it. We saw that in the good folks of Texas and Louisiana as neighbors and strangers helped each other.         The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for attaining wisdom and discipline, for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and …

I could tell you all of the reasons I want our new book, As the Crow Flies, to be in Braille. Instead, I’ll share this story from our time in Chad, Africa:   “Pastor, will you please read Acts 1:8 for us?” The white-haired Mzee picked up his Bible and began thumbing through it. I’d never seen someone read from …

Of all the things I learned from three years in Africa,  a lasting lesson was the sacrifice of families who serves overseas. Grandchildren grow up a world apart from their grandparents with only yearly (or less) face-to-face visits. Missionaries worry about their aging parents as the years roll on. Parents in the United States pray, worry, pray, and worry some …

Together, we can do it! Friends, You are invited to become part of the Creekbank Tribe that helps publish As the Crow Flies. Learn more at the Creekbank Kickstarter page.  I want to thank you in advance for believing in our stories and their worthiness to appear in print. Together, we can do it! Gratefully, Curt Iles       …

Growing up in a Small Community: The Rich Life of Mrs. Eva Cole “Oh, those small communities . . . “ -John Mellencamp   I grew up in Dry Creek, Louisiana. It would be an exaggeration to call it a town. It would be pretentious to call it a village. Reeves is a village. Dry Creek is a community. I like …

Friday, March 3 We’re keeping it simple at the Creekbank Tribe today. I hope you enjoy the quotes and have a great weekend. Please scroll down to help us select a new cover for Stories from the Creekbank. This year, I’ve fallen deeper in love with the woods. Trees are such a special part of my region of Louisiana.  I …

There are two life lessons I’m presently learning. First, is the power of the outdoors and nature. One of my keywords is L.L.L. Life Long Learning. I wish to finish strong in my life and constantly have a learner’s lean.  Eager to listen, learn, and grow. This corresponds with my three mantras: Stay Curious. Be Amazed. Tell Stories. Often I …

What is it about February? I read this excellent essay yearly on February 1. It’s written by Bobb Biehl. Thanks to Chip MacGregor for sharing this four years ago. Enjoy! Curt February habits Whenever we get past the January “new year resolutions” and starting moving into the February “reality of winter” season, it’s nice to spend a few moments taking …

Wednesday, January 25, 2017   This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him and saved him out of all his troubles. -King David in his wilderness time from  Psalm 34:6 In the Wilderness I’m still learning this: Sometimes God delivers us out of the wilderness, but often he instead chooses to walk with us through it. I guess that is …

Transparency is a Good Thing. “But he (Jesus) said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  -Paul in I Corinthians 12:9   There’s just something about a fire in the woods. …