A man in Topeka, Kansas, decided to write a book about churches around the
country. He started by flying to San Francisco and started working east
from there.
Going to a very large church he began taking photographs and making notes.
He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was intrigued with
a sign that read, "$10,000 per minute."
Seeking out the pastor, he asked about the phone and the sign. The pastor
answered that the golden phone is, in fact, a direct line to Heaven, and
if he pays the price, he can talk directly to God.
The man thanked the pastor and continued on his way.
As he continued to visit churches in Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver,
Chicago, Milwaukee, and around the United States, he found more such
phones with the same sign and the same explanation from each pastor.
Finally, the man arrived in the great state of Texas. Upon entering a
church, behold, he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time, the sign
read: "Calls: 25 cents"!? Fascinated, the man asked to speak with the
pastor.
"Reverend, I have been in cities all across the country and in each church
I have found this golden telephone, and have been told it is a direct line
to Heaven, and that I could use it to talk to God.... But in 20 other
churches, the cost was $10,000 per minute. Your sign says 25 cents per
call. .Why is that?
The pastor, smiling kindly, replied: "Son, you're in Texas now and it's a
local call."