We've all heard this one but I just thought this would be a pertinent time to revive it. One of my all time favourites...
An Englishman decided to write a book about famous churches around the world. So he bought a Plane ticket and took a trip to Australia, thinking that he would start by working his way through Sydney from the City to the Shire. On his first day he was inside a church taking photographs when he noticed a golden telephone mounted on the wall, with a sign that read "$10,000 per call." The Englishman, being intrigued, asked a nearby priest what the telephone was used for. The priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 you could talk to God. The Englishman thanked the priest and went along his way.
Next stop was in St Andrews. There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the same golden telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in the first Church and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was. She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 he could talk to God. " OK, thank you," said the Englishman.
He then travelled through the many churches on his way to the Shire. In every church, he saw the same golden telephone with the same "$10,000 per call" sign under it.
The Englishman then reached the well known Elephant House in Cronulla. There was the same golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read, "40c per call." The Englishamn was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign.
"Father, I've travelled all over Sydney and I've seen this same golden telephone in every Church I've visited. I'm told that it is a direct line to heaven, but in all the other Churches the price was $10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap here?"
The priest smiled and answered, "You're in the Shire now son - it's only a local call."