Twins

28 years ago today, Jason Dale Graves entered the world. Born into a family of love, grace, and Christian discipleship he’s emerged to be a young successful “who’s who” in the Michigan banking world. In high school, he became an all-state tennis player after only having a few years of real experience. He was third on the varsity golf team after one full season of practice. To say Jason picks up on things is like saying Howard Stern is drawn to controversy, both are huge understatements.

Jason, at 28, is a VP of Commercial Loans for Key Bank in Ann Arbor, MI. But more than that, he is a true ambassador of God’s grace in the world. I do not know many young men as successful as Jason who give the amounts of money to kingdom efforts like Jason and his wife Alayna. He is thinking carefully and intentionally about ways he can be a light in the dark world that is often “American banking.” He is out in the streets rubbing elbows with all kinds of folks “preaching the gospel, using words when necessary.”

T-ball, youth basketball, Friday night fights in the basement, traveling, triumphs (Both of us becoming all-state our senior year, he in tennis, me in basketball), and defeats (low points I cannot mention on a public blog)—Jason Dale Graves has been my best friend and closest confidant.

One little known fact: Jason and I are twins. 28 years ago Phil and Kathy Graves found out that they were having two sons, not one. The problem: they found out after Jason had already been delivered! Phil went to get McDonald’s for his young wife, and he came back to the revelation that his family just went from 3 (my sister was three at the time) to 5!

For the next several years, Jason and Josh Graves would be inseparable. Like Jacob and Esau, they’ve not always modeled the God-filled life with perfection, but God has been faithful to both of them, using their paltry gifts for the benefit of his activity on this earth.

May God continue to use these "jars of clay." Happy Birthday Jason.