CHURCH PHONES

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, which read
"Calls:$10,000 a minute."
Seeking out the pastor he asked about the phone and
the sign. The pastor answered that this 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, Dallas, St. Louis,
Chicago, Milwaukee and around the United States, he found
more phones with the same sign and the same answer from
each pastor.
Finally, he arrived in New Mexico, and upon entering a church
in Santa Fe, 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 and
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 only 35 cents a call. Why?"
The pastor, smiling benignly, replied,
"Son, you're in New Mexico now ......
You're in God's Country -- It's a local call...."