Bryan and Tom, two single lawyers from New York City, go to Reno, Nevada on a business trip. Tom was a Christian who went to church every Sunday; However, Bryan lived a bit on the wild side, enjoying parties and women. At the end of their trip, Tom invited Brian to go to a church with him. Brian was reluctant at first, but after thinking it over, he decided to go anyway.

“I didn’t think Reno had churches. I thought all Nevada offered was strip bars and casinos,” Bryan laughed.

“You’ll see. I’m sure there are several churches. I’m a Baptist, so I thought I’d go to one to see how we worship,” Tom replied.

“Okay, but you owe me one: if I go to a church service with you, you’ll come to a casino with me.”

“Well, that’s a deal,” Tom thought his partner’s offer was fair. He had never been to a casino.

Tom chose a Baptist church and they set out to go there the next Sunday morning. When they arrived, a greeter stood smiling at the wide front door, welcoming them and handing out programs for the day’s service. As they searched for a seat, Bryan began to fidget. “I don’t feel good about this. I’m not a Christian.”

“Maybe the service will feel more accommodating as it continues,” Tom said.

“I wonder what the pastor is like. I don’t want anyone to judge me.”

“I’m sure everything will be fine.”

After the service began, uplifting songs were sung and Bible verses were read. Then the minister, a Pastor Michaels, faced his congregation and welcomed everyone. He was over 50 years old, had gray hair and wore glasses. He stood up in a firm voice and said, “Let us pray.” He then offered a sincere prayer that lasted three minutes. After asking everyone to sit down, he went up to the pulpit. After about twenty minutes of a relatively ferocious lecture on all kinds of money-related sins, he can be led down a slippery slope to eternal torment in hell. Bryan felt a change wash over him, a feeling a little warm and fuzzy.

“The service wasn’t so bad after all!” Bryan said. “But you will still come with me to a casino tonight.”

Later that afternoon, Bryan searched his computer for a local casino, but there weren’t that many. He sews the Giant Gold Club. They dressed in regular polo shirts and khakis and drove downtown to find the venue. It took me several turns down the street to find a building with a bright blue sign that said Giant Gold Club.

After getting out of their car, they approached the gate of the club where they were checked for weapons. They each had to pay a $40 entry charge, and then they entered. Bryan found an automatic slot machine, put in some money, and got to work. Tom watched Bryan operate the machine as Bryan explained the game he was playing. Tom learned quickly and found his own machine.

Across the room Tom saw a man throwing dice at a long table, smoking a cigar. Tom looked at the man’s face. Then he told Bryan to look at that man.

“Don’t you think so? Pastor Michael from church this morning?” Tom asked.

Bryan couldn’t take his eyes off the show, but he turned his head to look at the man enjoying himself.

“You’ve got to be kidding! That’s him! I never forgot his face. That’s the pastor!” Bryan exclaimed as his eyes bulged out of his head. “It seems we have an immoral minister.”

Tom agreed and stared at the man, who was surrounded by many women clinging to the man. “Well Bryan, you were right! Reno isn’t a very moral place after all. This is Satan’s city!” He barged in on the man and lectured him about his tepid ways. The man was so drunk that he just looked at Tom, laughed out loud, and said in a firm voice, “Hey! You need to come here more often. You’re the most nervous person here!” Tom walked over to Bryan. He was so angry that he wanted to leave. Bryan wanted to stay, but Tom took a cab back to his hotel room. He didn’t sleep at all that night. The first thing he would do the next morning would be to drive to the church and talk to this “pastor.”

Bryan finally walked off in a drunken stupor at 2:30 AM. Tom pretended to be asleep. Bryan just fell on the bed and immediately started snoring loudly. It was better since Tom couldn’t fall asleep anyway. Tom got up early that morning at 7 AM. He got dressed and drove to the church at 9 in the morning. When he arrived, he entered the pastor’s office. He spoke to his secretary and asked to speak to Pastor Michael.

“He’s not here. Can I help you?”

Tom said, “You can imagine!”

Before the secretary could respond, Pastor Michaels entered.

“Pastor, this man wants to talk to you.”

“Come to my office… Sir…?”

“It’s just Tom for you.”

“Why are you so angry?”

“I saw you at that casino last night, having a lot of fun.”

“My God! You got me!” the shepherd laughed.

“What were you doing at the casino?” Tom said raising his voice.

“Relax, Tom. That was my reprobate twin brother, John.” Before Tom could say another insult, he stopped.

“Your twin brother?”

“Yeah. I guess you must be from out of town. Everyone knows about me and my ‘evil’ twin. So, I’m sorry you worried so much about this,” he said. “Do you go to church regularly?”

Tom said he went to church every Sunday.

“Well, if you go to church regularly, what were you doing in a casino?”

“I’m here with my reprobate law partner, Bryan,” laughed Tom.