A Fragile Stone: The Emotional Life of Simon Peter

Wanting to know more about the apostile Peter there was not much out there. Luckily I stumbled upon this book. Great read on the life and times of Peter. I read things I never knew about him. Just a fascinating read!

Michael Card does a great job at taking the reader on an expedition of Simon Peter's emotional state. His goal to help me understand Christ that much more is certainly attained here. This was a pouring out of the author's heart.

I have always loved Peter so much for his impetuousness, imperfections, and deep love for Christ. In this book, Michael Card has presented a much more real Peter than I have ever seen. I can see him so clearly now as he grew in his faith, love, obedience, and strength in Christ. I see him with his personal struggles as he comes to the realization that the Messiah must die and that following Jesus may very well lead to his own death. In the chapter describing the changes around Jesus during the last week of his life, Michael Card focuses on the fact that people began leaving Jesus because He made them realize that following Him would be hard, challenging, dangerous, and yet more fulfilling than any other experience of life. When the people say that what Jesus is describing is hard and who could bear that life, they begin leaving. Jesus turns to the twelve and asks if they are going to leave as well. Only Peter answers telling Jesus that He is Lord, Savior - where else would they go? In the past, when I have read or studied this part of Scripture, I just assumed that Peter was giving a strong affirmation of their faith and faithfulness. Michael Card gives another and much more realistic portrayal - Peter is tired, sad, disappointed and he agrees with the people who said that following Christ is hard and difficult to bear. His answer is more one of resignation - You are the Lord, Jesus. You are the Savior, you are the way to salvation - Where else are we going to go?? I have read these pages to almost everyone I know because Card continues on with these thoughts and states that at some point in our lives, we will also be disappointed with Christ. Things will go in a way we never wanted or imagined - he gave the examples of losing a child or getting cancer. At these points in our lives, we have the same decision as Peter - are we going to stay or will we decide that being a Christian is too hard and we cannot bear it. But we will be forced to choose faith or no faith at what may be the most painful point in our lives. Peter made his choice, yet he then followed by denying Christ three times. Watching Peter become "the rock" from being a "fragile stone" has brought me to an even stronger place in my faith. Peter is shown to be like us - with all the struggles, mistakes,joys and sorrows and he was able to choose Christ above all. Michael Card takes the reader on Peter's journey and the reader is strengthened and enriched. If I could give more than 5 stars, I would - just as I would have done for his book, A Sacred Sorrow - Reaching Out to God in the Lost Language of Lament.

I finished this book in only 3 days because I couldn't stop reading, I loved it!Card uncovers personal perspectives about Peter and about Jesus. Some highlights (among MANY) that struck me:WHEN Peter tried to walk on water: "The lesson is that Peter needed to sink in order to take that next step of faith in Jesus. Because walking on the water does not ultimately increase our faith, only sinking does! Those who ask for miracles and receive them soon forget. But those who suffer for Christ's sake never forget.""And what often goes unappreciated is that Peter's short walk was indeed a triumph of faith. It was his first miracle!"ON GOOD FRIDAY:"Jesus and his disciples were celebrating their Passover on Thursday when everyone else in Jerusalem was making preparations on Friday. This means that the Jews of Jerusalem were preparing and slaughtering their Passover lambs at precisely the same moment the following day, when Jesus, the Lamb of God, was dying on the cross."ON PETER'S DENIAL:After he denies Jesus the third time, Luke records that Jesus turned to him and looked at Peter across the courtyard. "It was this look, I believe, that broke Peter's heart.The understanding gaze of Jesus could not have been one of disdain or condemnation. That was not Jesus' way. I believe the only look that could have broken Simon Peter was of love and forgiveness. Which is just what we would expect from our Savior."There's also a segment that tears at your heart when Jesus, resurrected, asks Peter three times to take care of his Sheep, neutralizing Peter's three denials. It has never before struck me with the force of Jesus' kindness and forgiveness as Card reveals it.This book is less than 200 paperback-like pages that go by quickly. It is overflowing with insight and wonderful personal moments. Peter, the leader of the Apostles, may have faltered in his faith, but never in his love for Jesus. You will come away with a newfound respect for Peter and especially for the Friend he followed to the end.

After seeing this book on the shelf at our local library, I decided to check it out. This is a very interesting book and after reading it I see Peter in a new light. The only thing that was puzzling was the fact that it was stated that Jesus changed Simon's name to Peter but never called him by it, which in fact in Luke 22:34 Jesus did indeed call him by Peter. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. I am looking forward to reading Scribbling in the Sand.