A pastor in a casino?

Bryan and Tom, two single attorneys from New York City, go to Reno, Nevada for 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 his trip, Tom invited Brian to go to church with him. Brian was reluctant at first, but after thinking about it, he decided to go anyway.

“I didn’t think Reno had churches. I thought all Nevada offered was strip clubs 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 will come to a casino with me.

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

Tom chose a Baptist church and they left to go there next Sunday morning. When they arrived, a lobbyist stood smiling at the wide front door, welcomed them and gave them the schedules 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 will be 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 stood up to face his congregation and welcomed them all. He was over 50, gray hair, and wore glasses. He stood up with a firm voice and said, “Let us pray.” He then gave a sincere prayer that lasted three minutes. After he asked everyone to take a seat, he went up to the pulpit. After about twenty minutes of a relatively fiery sermon on all kinds of sin involving money, it can lead to a slippery slope to being eternally tormented in hell. Bryan felt a change wash over him, a somewhat warm and fuzzy feeling.

“The service wasn’t so bad after all!” Bryan said. “But you’re still coming to the casino with me tonight.”

Later that afternoon, Bryan searched his computer for a local casino, but there weren’t that many. He chose the Giant Gold Club. They dressed in polos and regular khaki pants and headed downtown to find the place. It took several steps around the street to find a building with a bright blue sign that read Giant Gold Club.

After getting out of their car, they approached the door of the club where they were searched for weapons. Each had to pay a coverage fee of $ 40 and then they got in. Bryan found an automatic slot machine, put in some money, and went to work. Tom watched Bryan operate the machine while 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.

“Doesn’t that look like that. Pastor Michael from church this morning?” Tom asked him.

Bryan couldn’t take his eyes off the show, but he turned his head to look at the man having a good time.

“You’ve got to be kidding me! That’s him! I never forgot his face. That’s the pastor!” Bryan exclaimed as his eyes popped 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 town!” He broke into the man and lectured him about his lukewarm ways. The man was so drunk that he stared at Tom, laughed a lot and said in a firm voice, “Hey! You have to come here more often. You’re the most nervous person here!” Tom went back to Bryan. He was so angry that he wanted to leave. Bryan wanted to stay, but Tom took a taxi back to his hotel room. He didn’t sleep at all that night. The first thing he would do the next morning was drive to church and talk to that “pastor.”

Bryan finally walked into a drunken stupor at 2:30 AM. Tom pretended to be asleep. Bryan simply fell onto the bed and immediately began snoring loudly. It was better since Tom couldn’t get to sleep anyway. Tom got up early that morning at 7 in the morning. He dressed and headed to church at 9 a.m. When he arrived, he entered the pastor’s office. He spoke to his secretary and demanded to speak to Pastor Michael.

“He’s not there. Can I help you?”

Tom said, “That’s good!”

Before the secretary could respond, Pastor Michaels entered.

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

“Will you come into my office … sir …?”

“It’s just Tom for you.”

“Why are you so angry?”

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

“Oh my! You got me!” the pastor laughed.

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

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

“Your twin brother?”

“Yeah. I guess you must be from out of town. Everybody knows about me and my ‘evil’ twin. So I’m sorry you’re worrying 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 attorney partner Bryan,” Tom laughed.