Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller

  1. Be Curious 2. Say “Wow!” 3. Tell Stories Those three things are what I mostly do in Africa. I’m a storyteller. It’s what I do. It’s who I am. I have a very serious job here in the Chadan cluster. DeDe and I are focused on our Big Three jobs for this year: 1. Getting God’s Word into …

Lifting the Barn. Together we can do it. Even if you skip today’s post, don’t miss this video of several hundred people moving a barn in Nebraska. http://youtu.be/o83W0gj_CRE is my favorite “Pamoja” story: Herman Ostry’s barn floor was under twenty-nine inches of water because of a rising creek. The Bruno, Nebraska farmer invited a few friends to a “barn raising.” …

Please use the share button(s) above so others can pray for our Chadan Team. It’s Sunday morning in America. We’re nine hours ahead of CST, so it’s Sunday evening. Prayer is like oxygen.  We must have it. It’s not an option in Africa. We must know you are “holding the rope” in prayer.  Our Big Four Prayer needs for the …

If you enjoy today’s post, please share it with your friends.   It’s Saturday. That means it’s picture day. There’s purpose in this: every picture does tell a story. And a picture is worth a thousand words. In fact, in Africa, it may be ten thousand. Here are photos from this past week as well as our sojourn in America. …

Welcome to our Thursday blog Today’s theme continues with trees. I’ve been sharing stories from our Louisiana Piney Woods. Today I’d like to show some of the beautiful trees of Africa. We’ll let the photos speak for themselves.   But before we get to the trees, you must see the video of these six girls.  It’s the cutest thing I’ve seen …

A word from Curt Curiosity It’s a good word for my life. I was born curious. It’s gotten me in some tight spots.  (Wildlife Agent at Sabine National Park to Robert Sanders and me,  “Now, which of the three “No Trespassing” signs did you fellows not see when you crawled under the gate.) Curiosity has also led to hundreds of …

Today we begin featuring a weekly audio podcast to supplement Tuesday’s blog post.  I believe you’ll enjoy my reading of “The Landmark Pine.”  Download free here.  A word from Curt Home. It’s a good word.  But at this season of my life, it’s a complicated word.  Where is home for me?  We’ve just returned from a wonderful month in Louisiana. …

A Rose by Any Other Name     I’ve been in Africa two years and still don’t have a name I’m comfortable with.   Most of you know me as Curt. It is unpronounceable for most Africans.   I spell it out C-U-R-T and they write it “C-U-O-T.” The “r” is difficult to pronounce here..   My friends up country …

  The Evergreen Cedar Tree From The Old House by Curt Iles I was born in a small town.  And I can breathe in a small town. Gonna die in a small town, That’s probably where they’ll bury me.                                                                         – John Mellencamp, “Small Town” Driving through the fog of an October morning, it is hard to see very far down the …

  Two years ago when we left the Louisiana piney woods for red dirt Africa,  so many of our churches, friends, and families promised to “hold the rope” for us. They’ve kept their word. Tonight we speak to a gathering of these same folks who sent us out. They’ve asked,  “How can we do more?” From our presentation, here are …

  King Tambura’s Grave   A palm limb slapped me as we trekked through the overgrown underbrush to the king’s grave. The trail was narrow and evidently unused. It seemed nearly an insult to a great king.   King Tambura was the greatest king of the Zande people, a tribe that lives in the tri-corner where the countries of South …

  For those of you enjoying a daily helping of Christmas Jelly, today’s post will publish at noon CST. A word from Curt Today, it’s three words. StayOnMessage. Listen to a podcast of this message: Thoughts on Reached the Unreached   ( 4 minutes  Draft of message at FBC Durham)   DeDe and I share today at First Baptist Church …

   African is full of hospitality. Coy Webb and Abrahim Kiir. Be aware Be Astonished Tell Others We started with poet Mary Oliver’s three-strand cord anchoring the Amazing Life. It’s a good spot to end this journey. I’ve been enjoying a rocking version of one of my favorite hymns. I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene. It’s …

         A word from Curt Today’s word is lagniappe. You’ll learn more about this neat word in today’s post. Enjoy!   We’re posting chapters from our new ebook,  Trampled Grass, daily. Tomorrow is the last chapter. We believe you’ll enjoy today’s story, “Lagniappe.”*   You can download a copy at : Read sample chapters or purchase at Amazon. …