GOP PICNIC SERVES UP POSITIVE TONE

Last Saturday, U.S. Rep. JO ANN EMERSON hosted her annual summer picnic for over 400 people on a warm but clear day. Held indoors at the increasingly utilized OSAGE Community Centre ... the air-conditioned facility was appreciated.

The casually dressed crowd enjoyed a tasteful buffet and listened to remarks made by Emerson, U.S. Rep. KENNY HULSHOF, anticipated U.S. Senate candidate and former U.S. Rep. JIM TALENT and the president pro tem of the Missouri Senate, PETER KINDER.

Emerson lightheartedly acting as master of ceremonies presented a plaque to term-limited state Rep. DAVID SCHWAB, who has one year left in his term, which will complete 14 years of service.

Talent, an unannounced candidate for a full-term U.S. Senate seat currently held by JEAN CARNAHAN, told the crowd that "I would like to run for the Senate if you all want me to," which was greeted by strong applause.

In discussing changes made by Congress during his service from 1994 to 2000 (when he left to run for governor and was narrowly defeated), Talent included the reforming of welfare ... which few predicted would happen or would work, but it has.

Talent said, "When you stand for values, you don't just change laws, you change hearts."

Hulshof, who was elected president of the Republican freshman class in 1997, now serves on the House Ways and Means committee and has become one of the bright, young, key leaders of the Republican House.

His parents live in Mississippi County, and Ken once served as assistant prosecuting attorney here in Cape Girardeau County.

Hulshof discussed the sacrifices and risks of the Founders of this country and pointed out that "each elected official is a patriot in his or her own right."

In Southeast Missouri the Republicans have no exclusive grasp on patriotism, morality, integrity and a desire to make this a better country for all to live and leave for their children and grandchildren.

However, it is refreshing to hear speakers sincerely share their values. The positive tone of the picnic sure beat the continuous barrage of negative news hammered at us daily.

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SLAMFEST was a big success as an event, not just a basketball tournament. It included music, families, food, a homecoming for many and a fund raiser.

We were proud to be the main corporate sponsor and would like to thank all of those who worked so tirelessly to assure that the tournament would be the success that it proved to be.

We'd also be proud if the city would review its traffic count on William Street before cutting down the large trees that provide shade and beauty to one of Indian Park's basketball courts.

The widening was originally planned in anticipation of the BOYD gambling boat and later because of the RIVER CAMPUS proposal. The city might want to review its scheduled priorities on street improvements.

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If this is a true story (as alleged by e-mail) it is truly a GREAT STORY:

After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in the service that evening.

In the introduction, the pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak.

"A father, his son and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific Coast," he began, "when a fast-approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to the shore. The waves were so high that, even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized."

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teen-agers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story.

The aged minister continued with his story, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy he would throw the other end of the life line. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his son's friend was not. The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves.

"As the father yelled out, I love you, son!' he threw out the life line to his son's friend.

"By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."

By this time, the two teen-agers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next works to come out of the old minister's mouth. "The father," he continued, "Knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus, and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save the son's friend.

"How great is the love of God that he should do the same for us. Our heavenly father sacrificed his only begotten son that we could be saved. I urge you to accept his offer to rescue you and take a hold of the life line he is throwing out to you in this service."

With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room.

The pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon with an invitation at the end. However, no one responded to the appeal.

Within minutes after the service ended, the two teen-agers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely stated one of the boys, "But I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his only son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."

"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, he once again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that story gives a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up his son for me. You see -- I was that father, and your pastor is my son's friend."

Gary Rust is chairman of Rust Communications.