Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller

Book signing this Tuesday. I really do enjoy book signings. It’s always an opportunity to see old friends as well as a chance to make new friends and readers. This week’s book signing is Tuesday May 12 at the Fontenot Memorial Library in Vinton. If you’re in the area, come by from 2:30-4:30 or 5:30-7:30 PM If you have friends, …

A Dropped Wedding Ring I’ve spent my life sitting in the pews, and have seen so many interesting things happen. Most memorable are times when I’ve seen (or heard) items dropped in church. I’ve seen the embarrassment of ushers dropping the collection plate as the coins rolled all over the auditorium I’ve heard songbooks slap loudly as they landed on …

* see additional entry at bottom of blog page. My Mom’s Best Gift (Photo above) A Texas bookmobile circa late 1950’s. My mother, Mary Iles, always described where we lived as “out in the sticks.” we didn’t even really live in the small village of Dry Creek, but out in the nearby woods on the “wrong side of the creek.” …

Hugh Jackman in “Australia” “Don’t do it, Wolverine.” In November, I was listening to a NPR interview with actor Hugh Jackman. Now I’m not very hip and haven’t seen Jackman in his “X-Men’s” role as Wolverine, the superhero. However, I did enjoy the character he played in the recent, “Australia.” In the above mentioned NPR story, Jackman told of playing …

This is a “book plate.” It is an adhesive label for placement inside a book cover. If you have any of my six (6) books and do not have a personal autograph, I’ll be happy to send one your way. Here’s how: Email me and include the following. In the subject line, put “Book Plate.” In the text body of …

Getting married this month Sara Knuckles and Terry Iles It’s hard to believe that Terry, our youngest son, is getting married in less than three weeks. I fell in love with his wife-to-be, Sara Knuckles, long before he did. I met Sara when she first moved to this area as a middle schooler. Being manager of a youth camp, I …

Unused Power I was born during a period of history when many World War I veterans were still alive. Of all those old men, the one that sticks out was a veteran named Manuel “Curt” Green. Curt Green was one of those country men who had never been anywhere, nor desired to, until World War I broke out. He traveled …

Bolivar Bishop, Beauregard Parish Sheriff 1971-2008 My Sheriff I’ve lived in Beauregard Parish for fifty-two years And he was my sheriff for all but sixteen of those years. There have only been three parish sheriffs in my lifetime. I was born under the administration of Sheriff Paul Stark (1948-1972). When he retired, a banker, Bolivar Bishop, was elected. For the …

The Evening Holler This group of Zulu (South African) boys are giving the “Dry Creek Hoot Owl Call.” I’d been in their village the week before and shared “The Evening Holler.” They greeted me with it when we returned. It was a neat experience. To read this story– the first one in my first book (Stories from the Creekbank) click …

The Sixth Word to live by In the past week we’ve blogged about the six words I strive to live by. Here are the previous ones: compassion/passion, integrity, resolve, gratitude, , and relationships. My final word, and today’s subject is Legacy. Legacy is all about where you end up at. Legacy is about how you’ll be remembered. Anyone can start …

Green Lake, a volcanic lake near Goma, Congo. Eastern Congo is located in a branch of the Great African Rift valley. Because of this, Goma is surrounded by five active volcanoes. With one of the churches we visited in the foreground, Mt. Nyiragongo lets off steam. African stories and faces The walls of African churches are simple. The worship taking …

A Love Affair with Longleaf Pines… and a life lesson from them.   (Above) A “Landmark” Longleaf Pine. Longville Gravel Pit Road. When the Longleaf Pines of western Louisiana were cut early in the 20th Century, some trees were left as “landmark trees” or “testimony trees.” This is my favorite about five miles southwest of Dry Creek. “The best time …

African Eyes This photo was taken while we taught Congolese pastors. I later placed my hand through one of the cracks, and soon a small black hand grasped mine and began stroking the hair on my arm. It was a special moment in our trip and I hope this photo captures the beauty of the young eyes and hearts of …

  Photos from Africa Bill Calloway of Glenmora teaches at a “Bible School” in Goma. This is where pastors and church leaders come for training. Our fine translators, John and Plamedia. These two young Christians were a key in our teaching and visiting throughout the Congo. Notice that Plamedia is holding a copy of Wind in the Pines. One of …