A man in Topeka , Kansas decided to write a book about churches around the country. He started by flying to San Francisco and 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 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 Pennsylvania. Upon entering a church in Pittsburgh, he saw the usual golden telephone. But this time, the sign read "Calls: $0.35 cents."
Fascinated, he asked to talk to the pastor. "Father Jones, 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 $0.35 cents a call. Why"?
The priest, smiling benignly, replied "Son, you're in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania now, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This is the CITY. A city of three vibrant rivers meeting at the Point of the most beautiful downtown area around; the city with the best neighborhoods and the friendliest people in the world!
Son, you're in God's Country....
It's a local call."
