JESUS RE-NAMED PETER "THE ROCK"-A NAME BEFITTING HIS BOLD CHARACTER AND WHAT BECAME HIS SOLID MINISTRY. REFERRED TO AS "THE FIRST" AMONG THE TWELVE DISCIPLES, HE WAS ALSO THE MAN GOD USED TO PEN THIS DYNAMIC EPISTLE. THOUGH PETER WAS A GALILEAN FISHERMAN-TURNED APOSTLE, HE IS A PERSON WE CAN DEFINITELY RELATE TO TODAY. HE TASTED THE EXTREME HIGHS AND LOWS OF LIFE-FROM DAYS SPENT IN BLESSED FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST TO THE HEART-WRENCHING TEST OF LYALTY WHEN HE DENIED HIS LORD THREE TIMES IN THE TEMPLE COURTYARD. THIS IS A BITTERSWEET STORY THAT ULTIMATELY OFFERS HOPE TO REFRESH US IN HURTFUL TIMES. AND IT'S AN EXCELLENT REMINDER THAT WHEN WE FATHER, CHRIST EXTENDS HIS STRONG HAND OF RESTORATION