A boy named Sue; the significance of a name.
Johnny Cash had a hit song named "A boy named Sue." The song was about a boy's Daddy naming him "Sue" cause he knew with a name like that, he would have to develop toughness to make it. That song illustrates the significance of a name.
Names are significant. When we name a child we typically give them a family name or, we may name them after someone who is special. We normally don't just randomly select names.
I have chosen "The Retreat at Dallas" as the name of the church plant we are doing. Why "The Retreat"? One Sunday Holli and I were driving to meet the boys for worship. We had been thinking about the name for the church we were praying about planting. As we drove down Barrett Parkway we passed a street named "Retreat." The name probably stuck with Holli because one of our early churches was "Heuck's Retreat Baptist Church."
She said "The retreat?"
I said "You are going on a retreat?"
She said "No, that's the name of a street."
I said "So?"
She said "Well, it kind of struck me."
I thought about it and thought about it and started thinking about a "Retreat." A retreat is normally a conference or something held at a retreat center that is located away from the hustle and bustle of life. You go on a retreat to get away... re-charge.. .clear your mind...
As I thought about what a retreat was, I thought about a church named "The Retreat." The Retreat at Dallas will be a place where a person who is hurting, discouraged, etc... can get away from the pressure of life and experience love and grace.
It will be a place where regardless of a person's background... how they dress etc... they will find love find love and grace at The Retreat. There will be no dress code. T-shirts, shorts, jeans, flip-flops... for that matter, no flops are fine. 
It will be a place where we think outside the box. Doesn't matter if "we've never done it that way before." As the country song says "there's a first time for everything."
It will be a place where we put people first. I know you have to have some guidelines but, there are times when you set the guidelines aside and just do the right thing. I am going to try my best, to make my rules and regulations "what would Jesus do?"
When I have to make decisions... when we as a church have to make decisions.. by God's grace we are going to come down on the side of grace as opposed to law.
There is a church in this area that has this line in their vision statement; "...whether you've given up on church or been a Christian for years, we invite you to come visit...."
I like that.. because, unfortunately, lots of Christians have given up on church. If you are one of those, try The Retreat.
Another vision statement I like, from a church in Tennessee is "Specialing in God SIMPLE not church complicated."
By God's grace, I want "The Retreat" to be a place of love and grace and acceptance. If you are not active in a local church and what I've written in this article sounds like something you may be interested in, shoot me an email at gepotts1@gmail.com or call at 678.205.7267. I would love to meet you at Starbuck's and talk or visit with you over facebook.
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