Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller

It’s one of my favourite things in Africa. Greeting and meeting. Meeting friends and family at the Entebbe (Uganda) airport.  We live about 5 km from the terminal and love meeting folks and family there. They say that Henry Morton Stanley struggled on what he would say when (and if) he found David Livingstone.  Legend records it as, “Dr. Livingstone, …

These are snippets of our work and life in Africa.

We’re sharing information on our country of South Sudan. Although we live in Entebbe, Uganda, South Sudan is our assigned country.  We were due to move there next month, but the current fighting has put that on hold. We are truly heartbroken at what is happening with the country but still desperately in love with the people there.   We’re …

Heartbroken    This week we our blogging will consist of putting faces on the chaos going on in South Sudan. You’ve heard the stats: at least 1000 dead . . . 150,000 displaced.  Numbers don’t move us like faces and stories. This week you’ll be meeting Simon and Rachel, Pastor John, Two Teachers, a family separated at the Nile and …

For years, I’ve given newlyweds our “Signposts on the Road to a Happy Marriage.” It’s simply a collection of short sayings that keep a marriage going.  Along with the Signposts Card, I give a $2 Bill as a reminder that in God’s eyes, “Two become One.” During this first week of the new year, I’m working on my Life Plan. …

2 January 2014   A new year is always a time to take inventory. I view it as an opportunity to look back as well as look ahead. I’ve developed the habit of using the week after Christmas to solidify about what will be most important to me in the new year. I invite you along on the journey.  I’m …

    Tractor Time     When this old world starts getting me down And people are just too much for me to face. I climb way up to the top of the stairs And all my cares just drift right into space. On the roof, it’s peaceful as can be And there the world below can’t bother me -On …

       In the coming days, we’ll be updating this Prayer Post for South Sudan. This will allow you to be praying for peace and stability.     Heartbroken  Thursday, Dec. 26 Read a simple but accurate report on the South Sudan Crisis. Christmas Day  25 December 2013 Today’s verse to pray over South Sudan (SS):   Psalm 46 …

  The following story comes from chapter 22 of our short story collection,  Christmas Jelly. A Gift from DQ     Christmas is a time for gifts, and there are all types of gifts. The best gifts come from our hands and hearts. They are created through a strong combination of love and skill. I’m obsessed with a gift I …

Scroll down to read today’s story from Christmas Jelly. Meeting Nelson Mandela on the Damascus Road   It’s big news all over Africa. Nelson Mandela has died. “Mandiba” (his African name) was loved by Africans and rightfully respected by the world. When I heard of his death, I returned to a lonely windswept section of highway in South Africa’s Zulu …

What it Means to Believe   This excerpt from my recent novel, A Spent Bullet, is a conversation between Harry Miller, a young soldier and Levon Reed, the father of the girl he plans to marry. It’s a conversation between two men about belief. A ninety-two-year-old cousin of mine wrote,  “I’ve taken college religion classes and lived nearly a century. …

Standing Your Ground . . . without Driving Yourself (and everyone else ) Crazy.   “But Eleazar stood his ground . . .” II Samuel 23:10 A key to a joyful  life is knowing when to stand your ground versus saying, “It’s no big deal.” Kampala, Uganda is on edge. The U.S. government shared a warning of an impending “Westgate-style” …

  Writing Note:  I have friends who are currently discouraged. As I’m praying for them, I recalled one of the most insightful fables about the subject of discouragement. As you read this, please join me in praying for my friends as well as any others you know who are discouraged. Discouragement comes to us when we’ve seemingly tried with everything …

  Click on audio player to hear podcast on “Discouragement or Depression” This is an excerpt from the Curt Iles’ book,  The Mockingbird’s Song. You can order copies as well as download the e-book at http://www.creekbank.net   Finally, I want to mention the difference between discouragement and depression. Discouragement is something we all deal with. Life’s battles and trials cause …