Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller

My ability won’t take me very far My fragility is a testimony of Who you are.  -“Jar of Clay”    Aaron Tate/Caedmon’s Call When it comes down to it, there’s little we can do by ourselves. When it comes down to it, we can get a lots done working with others. But the only way eternal differences are made are when …

  “I’m a thousand miles away from home Waiting on a train.”  -Jimmie Rodgers If you’ve been following my social media this week,  you know I’ve been on a adventure. Monday afternoon I caught Amtrak’s Sunset Limited in Lake Charles and rode it to Los Angeles (arriving on Wednesday morning). Then I boarded the Coast Starlight which snaked along the …

For the birds May is a great month for birds. This morning was foggy with humidity you could stir with a stick, but it didn’t phase the birds. They slept in a few minutes and began their rituals slightly later. The bluebirds won the morning battle of the birds.  A quartet of them serenaded us as we walked. Arriving back …

In the Garden It’s always been one of my favorite places. The prayer garden at Dry Creek Camp. It was evidently one of Harvey Jones’s also. He wanted his ashes spread there. His memorial service was yesterday.  It was a celebration of a richly lived life.  Harvey loved his Lord, his wife Sissy, and his family and it was a …

  It’s true.  A good cur dog can whip a skunk any day of the week. However, a smart cur dog won’t. It’s simple: you can win the fight and still lose.  I’ve seen dogs carry the scent of skunk for weeks and wallow in dust, mud, and cow manure trying to get rid of it.   If that dog could …

A beautiful morning in the piney woods.

A cup of coffee . . . and sandwich with Paul I hope you’re enjoying our thoughts on the short book of Philemon.  I ask for your comments and insights.  That is how we learn best! In verse 1, Paul identifies himself as a “prisoner of Christ Jesus.” This humble term identifies Paul and is the first floorboard in building …

What Train are you on? It’s imperative to listen . . . when a man writes from prison, or a dying man preaches his last sermon. Paul wrote his letter to Philemon from his favorite writing office, a Roman prison cell. “God of new beginnings, here I am again.” “I’m so thankful God is a God of second chances.”  – …

Tuesday, April 17 As they say, don’t try this at home.   The two teenage boys marched into my office.  One had a torn shirt and the other’s reddened eye would be black by tomorrow. They were both breathing like mad bulls from their fistfight by the high school lockers. They were now my charges in my charge in the …

On Work and Working David Cole is an artist and he’s been one of my best friends since the day we met in 1961.  We’re both Dry Creek boys who’ve never veered far from our roots. David is a talented saddle maker.  With his hands, he creates works of beauty that are enjoyed by folks across America. In many ways, …

Sara and Terry Iles are expecting their first child in October.  This is a lineup of this baby’s grandfathers.  Do you see any hope?  

Having a Contest This blog is a primer about setting up random winner on any online contest. Giveaways and contests draw people to our blogs, websites, and books.  The wise marketer/author will make use of these. However, the challenge is: how do I make sure my contest is operated with integrity.  To me, being honest is more important than selling …

"Louisiana's piney woods is completely different from well-known parts of our state like New Orleans and Cajun country.

Thursday, March 29 Wordle is a free internet resource where you can type in a series of words and it will randomly generate a graphic. My wordle sums up what I’m about.  Enjoy. http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/5079427/WhatCurtIsAbout "http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/5079427/WhatCurtIsAbout"