A man from Denver 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 which read "$10,000 a minute."
Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone. The pastor answered that this golden phone is 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, Green Bay, Chicago, Milwaukee, and on through the northern 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 Hamilton County, behold, he saw the usual golden telephone. But THIS time the sign read "Calls: 25 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 and have been told it is a direct line to Heaven and that I could talk to God. In the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute.
Your sign reads 25 cents a call. Why?"
The smiling pastor, replied, "Son, you're in the SOUTH now. This is God's country...it's a local call."
