About this item
Twin brothers David and Jason Benham grew up with big dreams of baseball and an even bigger trust in God. Though they attended a small high school with no baseball field, turned down a professional offer so they could attend college together, and faced more than one missed pitch and injuries, they kept dreaming, praying together on the field, and believing in God's provision for their lives.David and Jason's journey, from Little League to college to professional baseball and beyond, reminds us that even when we don't know what God is up to, He's putting together the pieces of our life's puzzle and executing the plans He has for each of us.Miracle in Shreveport tells the story of a family's love, the power of prayer, and a game that is truly all-American.
About the Author
(written by Jason)
Oh snap! I have to write a bio on my brother. How do you say "awkward" in Espanola?
I know David pretty well. We shared a womb, we shared a room, and now we share an office. It's not that I want to be around him that much, it's just that we've found we can accomplish much more by sticking together. For all you women who just said, "Awe, that's so sweet," please stop! I'm already uncomfortable enough.
My brother has always been a little more mouthy than me. While I was no angel, I was also not the one who ran away from home twice and jumped out of our black Astro van at an intersection because of a verbal battle with my dad. David fouled out of every single basketball game we ever played. If he wasn't tomahawk chopping an innocent shooter, he was asking the ref if he offended him in a former life. Although his mouth launched some amazing fireworks in high school, it helped me understand that our greatest weaknesses are often times over-extensions of our greatest strengths. Fortunately, God has transformed his mouth away from being a wrecking ball. But I warn you - if you wanna get in a verbal battle with him ... buckle up.
When we were seniors in high school he was drafted by the New York Mets ... I was not. While this was normally the most exciting time for a young guy in sports, I could tell he was sickened by the fact I didn't get the nod. The same thing happened after our junior year of college - it was the Mets again for him, but for me it was just more crickets. Finally, after our senior year at Liberty University we both got drafted, and for the first time in our lives we were ... apart. He went to Boston and I went to Baltimore, and for the next 4 years we knocked around the minor leagues learning how to live on our own. For me it was no problem. For him he needed a security blanket and binkie.
After his first season, he married his college sweetheart, Lori. Within six month's they were pregnant with their first boy, Bailey. Watching Lori chase Bailey around dusty baseball stadiums led him to walk away from the game three years later. But I know the real reason - he couldn't hit a curve ball! Now they have 5 healthy kiddos and every one of them claim me, Jason, as their favorite uncle.
After baseball we re-united in Charlotte, not having a clue what we were going to do. All we knew was that whatever we did it would be done together. While we had no formal business training we did have Godly parents that built into us a biblical worldview. This provided a sure foundation for our first business, which was in real estate in 2003. Although I'm much smarter in business than David we've done pretty well together. He still rides my coattails, though!
