Creekbank Stories Curt Iles, Storyteller

  Everyone has a memory of where they were for historic events. I was in second grade when JFK was shot, in a board meeting for 9/11… … and in the home of Ed and Kat King for the first landing on the moon. It was Sunday night, July 20, 1969. After the Sunday evening service at church, the Kings …

I recently read (and shared) a story on Christian cuss words. The author singled out the words “Luck” and “Fortune.”  He insisted that these words have no place in the life and vocabulary of a Christian. We followers of Christ believe that every step of our lives is directed by God and He is able to make good out of …

The Proverbs Plan Part of my daily Bible reading involves the Old Testament book of Proverbs. It’s a book of short wisdom sayings compiled by King Solomon and others. Because Proverbs contains 31 chapters, it is conducive to reading a daily chapter related to the day of the month.  i.e. on July 5th, I read Proverbs 5. When you start …

“The Door” is one of my favorite stories.  It blends humor with a poignant twist.   Coach Larry Greene   The Door A warning: Be careful with the doors at the Lake Charles Civic Center! I was there last week and as I entered the men’s room, I recalled Roy Greene’s story. The Lake Charles Civic Center opened thirty years …

    Stuck on Devil’s Tower   . . . I’m sure it seemed like a good idea at the time. On October 1, 1941 parachutist George Hopkins did something incredibly stupid.  He parachuted onto the top of Wyoming’s Devil’s Tower. Recently while visiting this impressive national monument, I read about Hopkin’s stunt. He did it to get attention and …

Curt with Ivory at the Old House. My son Clint and I walked out of the camp office together. As we exited outside, there was Ivory grinning her silly smile, as she expectantly thumped her big tail against the wall.  I challenged Clint to a test, “Clint, let’s stop here and find out who Ivory really loves the most.  You …

Le Petit Baton Rouge* Of all of the memorable places to visit in my home state of Louisiana, Avery Island is one of my favorites. Situated on the coastal marsh below Lafayette, “The Island” is an elevated area that rises above the surrounding flat marsh. It is not really an island but is a high area due to sitting above …

Pray One for Another   “. . . And pray one for another.” (James 5:16) One of my favorite stories concerning prayer is told by my lifelong friend, Della Mercer. She faithfully taught the preschoolers at our church for years. Once at the end of a lesson on prayer, she wanted to finish the lesson by having the children pray. …

Oakdale Mill bluebird box. Notice log truck and cranes in background. My mantra: Stay Curious. Be Amazed. Share Remarkable Stories. I work Mondays as a chaplain at Roy O Martin’s Mills. Today, as I entered the Oakdale mill, I stopped by the bluebird boxes. It’s not on my job description, but I always check the boxes. I unhook the door …

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms   “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” –Deuteronomy 33:27   I know it is still there—page 276 in the old Broadman hymnal—that old classic hymn “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.” What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms. What a blessedness, what a peace is …

  “There are three ways to ultimate success. The first way is to be kind. The second way is to be kind. The third way is to be kind.” -Fred Rogers aka Mister Rogers On Kindness   Always be kinder than necessary. It’s a trait that both blesses the receiver and the giver. It leaves both with a spring in …

I’ve really been encouraged by this verse from Isaiah:   “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29   Wherever you are in your journey, God is there for you.

A word from Curt   The following comes via my friend, agent Chip MacGregor. He shared these questions back in 2012 and I try to take this “February Questionnaire” each year. Chip gives credit on the questions to Bobb Biehl. I’d encourage you to read this and jot down answers to these life questions. Wishing you the best in 2019. …

A word from Curt I’ve never liked the R word. Resolutions. I prefer to talk and think about the bigger issue of how I want to be a difference maker in this new year. I call it the 30,000 foot view. Personally, I craft a yearly Life Statement. It’s simply a short statement of my priority for this season of my journey. …