THE GOLDEN TELEPHONE
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 "$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, Tulsa, 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 Texas Upon entering a church in Midland, Texas,
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 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?" I love this part -----
The pastor, smiling benignly, replied, "Son, you're in Texas now......It's
a local call."
