Encouragement!

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 …

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The Friendship Lane: Thoughts on Getting Along

    Yesterday’s post concerned the issue of land ownership in Uganda.  If you missed it,  you can read,  “This Land Ain’t for Sale” here.     The story featured in both the podcast (audio) and post (below) is called “The Friendship Lane.”  It’s one of my favourites on the art of getting along. The podcast is a early draft …

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Dead Tree . . . Deep Roots

A Dead Tree with Deep Roots This morning I went by to check on one of my favorite trees in the whole world. As my youngest son Terry and I left our deer stand deep in Crooked Bayou Swamp, we made a detour through the woods. As we walked under the towering oaks and hickories, a late fall was at …

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A Life Lesson: One Step at a Time

A word from Curt The word is faith. It’s a hopeful word. It has to do with things we cannot see. Yet. Today’s blog means so much to me.  It was a life lesson principle that still guides my life. I shared “One Step” last week with a group of teens. I was astounded at how this story resonated with …

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Long May It Wave: Independence Day

That Flag A word from Curt It’s a good word for today. Freedom.   Trampled Grass is coming your way.  You can pre-order your printed copy here. We’d love to hear your comments on this story. You can use the form at the end of this post or send a Facebook message. Enjoy!     No matter where I see it, my heart still jumps. …

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The Week Ahead: Holding the Rope

A word from Curt Oxygen.  We cannot live without it. Prayer is the oxygen of the soul.  It’s communion between us and the Father.  All made possible by the Son’s sacrifice and release.  And the Spirit guides all believers in how to pray.   DeDe and I depend on our friends who faithfully pray for our work and ministry. We …

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Homesick!

We’re continuing our summer camp features.  Seth and Terry, two of the campers in this story, are now grown men. Seth is getting ready to hike and bike across Europe. Terry is moving to Boston. I surmise they’ll handle their homesickness. Seth’s Big Camp Day   Monday, July 5   There is no camp like R.A. Camp . . . …

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Sad Eyes

A word from Curt Uno. I’m camp missionary at Living Waters Kid’s Camp this week.  Africa and missions are on my mind.  That’s where this story comes from.   It’s a card game called Uno. You know it as a card game. I call it a friendmaker. A deck of cards always draws people. It’ll help a standoffish child, teen, …

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Curt@60: It’s Hurricane Season and my birthday.

Read our latest story letter: Excerpts A Word from Curt: Gratitude One of my 6+ Words* for 2016 is Gratitude.  What a wonderful word. My deepest desire is living the gratitude-filled life.  It’s hard to be cynical, bitter, or complacent when we view everything (and everyone) through the lens of gratitude. Lord, you’ve given me so much. I ask for …

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Amazing: A WWII story you’ll have to share

A word from Curt: Amazing!  What a good word. During this current season of my life, my writing (and life) is focused on three things: Staying Curious. Being Amazed. Telling Stories that Resonate. This story, told by my friend and mentor, Ron Perry, is my favorite story of 2016. Read. Be amazed. Share it. SOMEONE IS PRAYING FOR YOU It …

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A Walk in the Woods

  Come to the woods for here is rest.  -John Muir   The Trail stretches across Arkansas from near Little Rock westward to Oklahoma.  I walked a section last week. Here are images from my trek.               Two slanted blazes warn of a turn in the trail.  In this case, a hard left. Typical …

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Answered Prayer and Gratitude

  A Memorable story from South Sudan: In 2014, attended a UN Church in Juba, South Sudan’s capital. During testimony time, a lady (see photo) held aloft an official paper from the government, written in Arabic. She shared how two weeks ago she’d brought a earlier letter taking away her land. The church prayed over the letter and situation. The letter …

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Is Ingratitude a sin?

Western Louisiana is crisscrossed with beautiful creeks and rivers. This is Cherry Winche Creek that winds through SW Rapides and Allen Parishes. Thoughts on the Gratitude-Filled Life I’ve been convicted that “A poor memory is the root of the sin of ingratitude.” We forget the limitless blessings we have from God. I want to live the Gratitude-Filled Life beginning with …

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The Gratitude-Filled Life

A word to live by: Gratitude. Today, I’m thinking about gratitude. It’s such a powerful word. It’s more than simply being thankful for one event or blessing. It is an attitude that should permeate every second of our lives. It’s an attitude of gratitude. A thankfulness that flows out of the heart and examines every detail of our lives in …

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