Preach

As told to me, with a slight alteration:

"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free."

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, Denver, Michigan, Chicago,
Minnesota, and around the United States, he found more phones, with the
same sign, and the same answer from each pastor.

Finally, he arrived in Georgia. Upon entering a church in Athens, 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, but, in the other churches the cost was $10,000 a minute. Your sign reads 25 cents a call. Why?"

The pastor, smiling benignly, replied, "Son, you're in Georgia now; it's a
local call."