An author decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco and worked east from there. Going to the first 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, 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, Denver, Green Bay, Chicago, Milwaukee, and all around the United States, he found more of the same phone with the same sign and got the same answer from each pastor.

Then he arrived in his last state, Texas. Upon entering a church in Fort Worth, 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’ve found this golden telephone and have been told it’s 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 25 cents a call. Why?” 

The pastor, smiling, replied, “Son, you’re in Texas now. This is God’s country and it’s a local call.”

One Liner
“Vacation” is when you get away from it all. Then you come back to find that “it all” is just waiting patiently on your desk.