A
man in Topeka, Kansas decided to write a book about churches around the
country. He started by flying to San Francisco and worked east from
there. Going to a very large church, he began taking photographs and
notes. He spotted a golden telephone on the vestibule wall and was
intrigued by a sign which read: "$10,000 a minute." Seeking
out the Pastor he asked about the phone and the sign. The Pastor
explained that the golden phone was, in fact, a direct line to Heaven
and if he paid the price he could talk directly to God. The man thanked
the Pastor and continued on his way. As he continued to visit churches
in Seattle, San Diego, Chicago, Greensboro, Tampa and all around the
United States, he found more phones with the same sign and got the same
answer from each Pastor. Finally, he arrived in Texas. Upon entering a
church in Dallas, behold, he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS
time, the sign read: "Calls: 35 cents." Fascinated, he asked
to talk to the Pastor. "Reverend, I have been in cities all across
the country and in each church I have found this golden telephone. I
have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to
God, but, in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign
reads 35 cents. Why?" The Pastor, smiling benignly, replied,
"Son, you're in Texas now... It's a local call."
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