Telephones in Churches

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 , Denver , Fargo , 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 Iowa, upon entering a church in Boone
Iowa 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 Iowa now ......
You're in God's Country, It's a local call.'