Tracy's thoughts

"Do we serve our community and neighbors to convert them or do we serve because we are converted?" I recently read an article discussing this question and found myself a bit conflicted on my thoughts. In all honesty, I admit that part of me believes my service efforts align with the former part of this statement. But the more I think about it, that reason sounds awful manipulative and bait-and-switch-like. So I'm left wrestling with my motives -- I want to authentically love those around me, but not feel like I have to. And as I process these motives, I definitely don't want to become frozen to my pew and do nothing.

John seems to say on many occasions that our love for others should flow from our understanding of how much Jesus loves us. Or, in other words, we are ultimately compelled to serve others. But at the same time, our compulsion must come without feeling like we "have to" serve. So, can I serve with pure motives all the time? And if not, then should I be serving at all?

I'm learning that in life, many things require a delicate balance. This seems to be another one of those areas.

So, when you serve (if you serve) others, where does your motivation come from?

"So, how was your Christmas?" That seems to be the question we are all answering the first two weeks of January. It is usually an innocent, conversation-starting question used to catch up with friends who you haven't seen much during December's craziness. So, why do I find myself torn on how best to answer that question honestly? Shouldn't it be a simple answer? Something like, "Fine. We saw a bunch of family, opened presents, ate too much, watched movies. You know..."

To some degree my response depends on who is asking. The acquaintance gets the "Fine, we had a good time" response. And the closer friend gets the more detailed answer. But, either way, this year I found myself wanting to say something bah-humbug like, "I wish we didn't have to shop for presents and fight the crowds. I wish we didn't have to worry about money. I wish all the expectations didn't exist. I wish we could have just holed up in our house with minimal decorations and presents and just been homebodies while watching movies in our pj's all day. And I wish we could have done that schedule for a week straight!"

Whoa.

Sometimes brutal honesty needs to be softened a bit. The reality is my response above is very selfish -- honest, but selfish. And furthermore, it does not represent what our family values. If I, as the leader of our family, dictated that our Christmas season would reflect what I described above, my kids (and wife, too, probably) would have strung me up by my toes with mistletoe!

You see, I learned this Christmas that I truly desire a simple, anxiety-free celebration of Jesus' birth. But I also learned that simple and anxiety-free are defined and experienced in different ways. In our western culture, there will always be a certain level of expectations and anxiety surrounding Christmas. We worked hard this year to keep things simple and, to a large degree, we got to experience it.

At the same time, I will always enjoy going to see family and watching our young kids enjoy the magic of Christmas. I do relish the idea of getting those I love and care for a special gift that communicates my feelings -- even if it means braving the crowds. Yes, there needs to be balance in how much effort we put into "experiencing" Christmas, but my bah-humbug attitude certainly doesn't help things.

So, my Christmas was "fine," how was yours?

Dads,

So, last time I wrote about how our kids are "watching us" and used the video I found as an entertaining way to describe how this situation might look. You could say I was addressing the issue reactively.

Now I want to challenge you Dads to think in a proactive way. Please allow me to be blunt with these questions.

:: Do you believe it is your responsibility to clearly communicate who Jesus is to your family?

:: Do you believe it is your responsibility to lead your family in worship (whatever that means)?

:: Do you believe it is your responsibility to disciple your children?

If you say No to any of these questions, I'd love to hear why (chapter and verse, please).

Tracy

To all experienced Dads, new Dads, and future Dads:

Being a Dad is a wonderful, humble, exciting, and fearful thing -- and I haven't even been at it as long as many of you.

In a significant way, being a Dad gives us a small glimpse of God's love for us as a Father. As I watch my kids I am amazed at how God created them and how much I feel love for them. What scares the beegeebers out of me is that they are watching me, too.

Recently, I heard the song below and I'm learning that the principles this song references are true no matter what stage of fatherhood you are in.

Anyway, my kids picked up on this song and have relished blasting the speakers when it comes on. The other night I asked one of my sons if he was "Watching Me" like the song was talking about. He said, "Yes." Hmmmmm...humbling. But I know what he said is true. Boy, am I thankful for God's grace! Here's to being the strong, servant leaders of our homes. I hope you enjoy the video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqYUns2YQik

I finished reading a new book by George Barna titled Revolution. It’s a very interesting and quick read that I recommend (I’m a slow reader and I finished it in three days!). Barna is an expert on trends and surveys and several of his cultural predictions based on his research have come true. So, I get the impression he is well respected by many.

In Revolution, Barna asserts that the new wave of Christianity is becoming disenchanted with institutionalized "church" and seeks a more real and authentic experience for their faith. So much so that Revolutionaries are finding their own pockets of friends with which to passionately live out their faith. Barna seems to be saying that Revolutionaries are not necessarily against "church," but find it lacking in being able to make a real difference in real life.

So, I find myself asking similar questions -- kind of. What does belonging to a church mean? And next, does gathering on Sunday morning (or whenever the group chooses to meet) make a real difference in the real world? If it does, what kind of a difference does it make? If it doesn’t, then I’m back to what does church mean?

Is it ok for a pastor to be struggling with these questions?

I recently read this 1976 article by Edith Schaeffer (Francis’s wife)
http://members.aol.com/Patriarchy/definitions/hospitality.htm
and found myself challenged to re-think what hospitality is all about. Mrs. Schaeffer questions if hospitality is optional or commanded. I think one can easily make a case that it is commanded, but what is it we are actually trying to embrace and emulate with hospitality?

In the past I think I believed that just being nice to those around me (my “neighbors”) qualified for some level of hospitality. So, if I loaned my lawnmower to a neighbor because she didn’t have one, then that fit the definition. Well, maybe. However, if that is the extent of the gesture, then I believe I fell short. I now believe that if hospitality becomes just one more thing on the checklist of Christianity to do, then it is optional (using Schaeffer’s word). In fact, I would almost suggest you consider refraining from doing things “just to be nice.” You see hospitality is not just about being nice, it is about showing actual care for those around us. It means taking a sincere interest in the lives of people.

Boy, do I still have some learning to do!

As I (we) begin to fully understand God’s love for me, then I can begin caring for my neighbors in a genuine way that reflects the kind of love I have experienced from God, which is much, much more than just being nice. It is in this experience that I believe we rightly begin to understand what Jesus meant when he described the Samaritan as the true neighbor.

I like what Brian McLaren says, “I am here to be their neighbor according to the teaching of my Lord, and if I am not a good one, my Lord says they have no reason to believe or even respect my message.”

So by accident I ran across this blog by M. Patton about cursing and, similar to the author's response, it made me laugh and cry. Laugh because of the irony. Cry because of the fettish our Christian sub-culture has with these issues. For me, I find these behavioral discussions so interesting in light of the bigger picture. However, this time I especially took interest when reading Wayne Grudem's (noted Christian scholar) response to the topic. I'm not sure I completely agree with him. But I do like the last part of what Patton says (see below). What do you think?

Here's the blog by M. Patton, be sure to read the second-to-last paragraph:
http://www.reclaimingthemind.org/blog/2007/06/02/now-my-pastor-needs-soap-in-his-mouth-the-cursing-christian-2/

Here's an article discussing another situation with John Piper with comments from Grudem:
http://www.challies.com/archives/002318.php

Here's Grudem's original letter:
http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByTitle/1945_Wayne_Grudem_on_Offensive_Language/

Can you relate to dysfunctional families that attempt to love each other in spite of all their short comings (that’s quite the loaded question)? If so, I suggest you watch a few episodes of Brothers and Sisters on ABC. This family – the Walkers – experiences broken promises, addictions, adultery, manipulation, embarrassment, anger, fear, etc. – basically, different variations of life pain. Granted, these are typical plot themes you might expect from a show like this one, but I believe the interaction between the family members is a bit more believable and, dare I say, hopeful.

So, you may be thinking, why the big deal over this show?

As opposed to other dramatic shows similar to this one; I am drawn to the way the Walkers stick together (can I say “love?”) despite their differences, offenses, life choices, and marital issues. They actually demonstrate love, forgiveness, mercy, and commitment in the midst of their life struggles. Hmmmm…sounds like characteristics the church should reflect.

The Walkers definitely don’t have a perfect family, but then do any of us? Especially the church.

This show might not be for everyone, but I’m interested to hear if you see the same themes I do.

Tracy

Brothers and Sisters, Sundays @ 10pm
http://abc.go.com/
(you can watch all the old episodes here -- pretty cool)

Here’s the deal: We are beginning to plan for next year and I’m wondering about the viability of offering more Beyond Sunday events. I guess my main concern goes like this, "I've listened to talk about the need for discussions like these, but it seems like there has not been consistent, significant participation. So I'm wondering what kind of tinkering needs to be done to the gatherings, or should we try something entirely different, or am I just missing the boat in terms of what is needed (which is entirely possible)? Or are they working just fine?"

So, some natural questions that arise:
Are we offering it at an inconvenient time?
Are the topics of interest to you?
Does the format need adjusting?
Is it troublesome to have the gatherings conflict with Sunday night small groups?
Is the overall effort worth it?
Is a Film & Theology night something you’d be interested in?

Please let me know what you thihnk!
Tracy

(Original idea and scope behind Beyond Sunday: http://gcfweb.org/index.php/graced_lives/beyond_sunday )

As we talk about "relating to our world," I believe it important for us to read this recent article from Newsweek titled The God Debate:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17889148/site/newsweek/

If you don't have enough time to read the whole thing, then I strongly suggest you read some of the comments submitted in response to the article:

http://society.talk.newsweek.com/default.asp?item=550203#comments

If you are wondering what my point is, I guess I'm most concerned by some of the "Christian" submissions. Is this our best way to relate to those around us? Even in cyberspace? All I keep thinking about is where is the love we heard about on Easter Sunday?

What do you think?

There has been a recent stir in the evangelical world about Rick Warren's invite of Senator Barack Obama to participate in an international HIV/AIDS conference at Warren's church (http://www.purposedriven.com/en-US/Events/AIDS/Overview.htm). The rub is basically that Senator Obama supports abortion rights, so how could a good Bible-believing church invite him to participate in a conference on AIDS, which is essentially an effort to try and organize efforts to save lives? Inviting someone with abortion rights views seems contradictory in nature -- you know, abortion kills babies vs. saving lives affected by AIDS.

Personally, I like the bridges being built. However, the controversy saddens me because the focus is taken off of helping those suffering with a terrible disease and placed on an "us vs. them" debate -- among family members no less! And this internal debate is what our culture sees and hears and, subsequently, reinforces negative perspectives of Christians. Arrrrrrgggghhh!!! Why is it so hard to focus on what the real issue is here? It seems to me that if Senator Obama's views, experience, and influence can help bring awareness to an ugly issue that we as Christians have an obligation to address, why is that so wrong? Why can't we say something like, "Cool, how can I help in my own little part of the world?" and let God work on Obama (like He is working on me). I know I need to improve my own attitude about the AIDS situation.

By the way, a debate like this brings up all kinds of issues with which we should wrestle. For example, should we only engage in strategy conversations with those who believe everything exactly as we do (btw, good luck trying to find someone like that)? Do we have to endorse every position a person takes in order to discuss ways to love our neighbors from a Christian point of view? Are there issues we should not bend on? Are there issues we should bend on? Who gets to decide?

I know what I believe on this type of a subject has changed over the years. Dare I ask what you all believe on this subject?

Would we at Grace invite Obama?

The other day I saw TV commericals from two political opponents that basically slammed the other's integrity and made fun of the other person. I guess I am suppose to believe that I should vote for the other candidate because this candidate is just sooooo bad. Hmmmm, it must be election time again.

I must admit that these kind of commercials really grate on me. Why is it so difficult for candidates to create commercials and other literature that focuses on what he or she is going to do once in office and not how bad the other candidate is? Why do we tend to default to name calling and tit-for-tat strategies instead of explaining why the position a candidate chooses to take will be best for those the candidate is representing? Why do I feel like I am voting for the lesser of two evils instead of someone who has worked hard to persuade me with sound arguments and treats his or her opponent with respect? Why?!

And then I ask myself, what is my role in all of this?

Someone, please help me understand...

(BTW, I really didn't mean for this to be a plug for the upcoming Beyond Sunday discussion, it's just an issue I've been thinking about a lot over the years.)

So I went on a week vacation a little while ago and set a goal to read two books -- entirely. Now, that may not seem like such an outlandish goal, but one must remember that my addiction is TV and movies and, at least on vacation, I slip very easily into that addiction (especially when cable is available!).

I picked two books that seemed to me to be written by authors who were brutally honest about the situations in which they were writing. And I was right. I found myself shaken by their honesty and yet also laughing multiple times throughout each book. Did I agree with everything written? No. But that's ok. The two books I read were "Confessions of A Reformission Rev." by Mark Driscoll and "Starving Jesus" by Craig Gross and J.R. Mahon (look below for more info).

This blog is not meant to be a book review, so let me get to my point about what I learned from the books. I basically was convicted (or re-convicted) that my concern for others (especially those who don't have a relationship with Jesus) is not where it should be. As I am learning more about who Jesus is and what He was/is passionate about in life, I'm continuing to find myself not looking at those around me with the same view that He does. In other words, my heart for others needs to be more like His. Simply put, I'm continually amazed at how selfish I am in daily life -- despite my head knowledge of the gift He has given me. Wow. I've got a ways to go still...

Anyway, I write what I was convicted about not to make anyone feel guilty, but rather to challenge you to get to know Jesus. Get to know how much He loves you (do we really understand this??)! Remember what exactly it was that He did for you. Get to know how much He cares for those who don't know Him. That's my challenge. For you AND me.

You see, I believe that as we come to a greater understanding of this amazing truth, we will be compelled to share the Good News to others. And I don't mean cold-call knocking on doors to share the four spiritual laws. I mean building relationships with those in our existing network of friends, colleagues, and neighbors and demonstrating God's love in tangible ways. I mean getting off our butts and loving those around us out of compassion and not guilt.

So that's where I'm at today. Maybe I need to go back on vacation.
Tracy

http://www.amazon.com/Confessions-Reformission/dp/0310270162/ref=pd_sim_dbs_b_1/102-1034394-7226516?ie=UTF8
http://www.starvingjesus.com/ (click on 'the book')

As the reigning King of Justification, I feel proud to be able to say I’m better than you (see, I can even justify pride!).

I grew up in a pretty safe environment and didn’t choose many rebellious paths. I don’t know why I was given the background I have, but that’s what I got. Growing up in an environment like that can lead one to believe that he doesn’t make many mistakes (more on that in an upcoming sermon). But my point today is that because I tended to believe I didn’t make many mistakes, I could justify just about anything within my supposed moral, biblical bounds.

Now you may be thinking, “Whoaaaaa, there, Tracy. Where are you going with this thought?” I am saying that I believe we all, to some degree, justify what we want in our lives (selfishness). Anywhere from eating too much ice cream to outright prideful behavior (sin). Here are two simple (and embarrassing) examples from the reigning king’s life. Number one, as some of you know, my main addiction is watching TV and too many movies. It continues to amaze me how late at night, when I KNOW I should be going to bed, I can somehow rationalize that watching a 2 ½ hour movie won’t set me back the next day – even though I have a plethora of experiences to tell me otherwise. I want to do it, so I figure out a justification for it. Sometimes I can even con my wife into watching with me (how’s that for taking care of my spouse when she has the four kiddos to watch the next day!?!). Number two, I hate admitting I’m wrong. More often than not, I can justify and manipulate in my mind why my position is better than or correct over someone else’s. Unfortunately, most times my justifications and manipulations are focused on my own selfishness and…dang it…my pride.

Ahhh, selfishness and pride. Those are two of my favorite subjects in my kingdom. They continually help me maintain my grasp as the reigning King of Justification. I can so relate to the latter half of Romans 7.

We all justify, I just think I’m better at it than you! :0
What do you think?

Oh, one last thing, I can even justify messing with Eric’s computer and changing his screen saver marquee (see http://www.gcfweb.org/b2evolution/blogs/index.php/eric)!! It was just too easy to do…

We've been at this blog thing for a few months now and it is interesting to see what motivates people to reply and what, perhaps, does not. I am not suggesting that people must reply to benefit in some small way from the blog conversations, I am only saying it is interesting to see what topics elicit a reply. Either way, I must admit, I am a little curious to see how many of you are actually reading these posts. So, I am asking you who are reading this blog to reply and simply say "I am."

Yes, it is a risk, but it is oh such a little one! :)

Word up.

Ok, I need to seek further discussion on a side issue that came up from Jon’s 3-20-06 post. The idea that we are, by definition, a part of culture I understand. But I still wrestle with trying to understand our culture better. By saying understand I mean trying to get a clearer focus on the magical line (if one really exists) that identifies the difference between gaining knowledge about a culture and being influenced by it. Maybe I’m making too big a deal about this topic, but I am interested to hear what you all think. Should I go to R-rated movies to learn about culture or not? If yes, which ones? Should I read Harry Potter or not? Should I read the Left Behind series or not? Should I visit the Saturday Market and enjoy the rich aroma or not? The country fair? How much porn do I need to see to understand that culture?

I’m just trying to get a better grasp of John 17:14-18.

The Sunday program said the title of this blog would be "King of Justification." Well, I changed my mind post program printing time because I thought this topic might be more meaningful right now. You may have heard me say recently that I am humbled by the amount of pain present in our lives these days. I am always encouraged to hear stories of those who are facing the pain head on and doing their best to work through it by clinging to God foremost and the relationships of those who truly care for them. The process is never easy. The e-mail below is posted with permission and captures the realness and honesty that I believe it takes to engage life's pains head on. I hope you are encouraged by their honesty and can relate in some way to the issues in your own life.
Peace,
Tracy
______________________________
Sent: Monday, February 27, 2006 11:15 PM
Subject: Thank you

Hello Loving Friends and Family,
Wow! We want to thank you for the love and support you've shown us through emails, cards, meals, prayers, your hugs and encouraging words. We truly feel the body of Christ grieving with us and upholding us through this time.

Paul and I were able to get away to the coast for a couple of days- which proved to be a good time to reflect, journal, and talk through much of what had happened. I think in my naive mind I thougt we'd come home from that weekend feeling healed and ready to move on. I quickly realized this is not how grief works. I'm seeing how unpredictable and fragile my emotions are. One moment I may be fine and the next I don't feel like I want to get out of
bed. Some days I feel great,(and then I kind of feel guilty about not hurting), and then other days the pain hits me hard at unexpected times. It can feel like a roller coaster.

Paul and I are learning through this time that we grieve differently, and that that is ok. We knew that was expected, but we didn't anticipate the frustration that it would bring. We are learning to communicate through our
differences and learning to extend grace. Sometimes we find ourselves laughing at these differences, but at other moments I want to run and pout. (there's that roller coaster again) Paul is learning the true meaning of the word unpredictable.

We've sensed our need to take things one day at a time as we hold our Father's hand. He is gracious to us and it is comforting to know that He is trust worthy. He is our Faithful Shepherd who longs to lead us through this
dark valley. I want to skip the valley, but I know the Lord has many lessons to teach us as we walk through this time.

Tomorrow I head back to work. I'd appreciate your prayers as I face my coworkers, and the mother baby unit, as well as my patients with brand new babies. I've always loved where I work, and my coworkers have all been so
supportive, but I know it will be hard at times. Thank you so much for your prayers and support. We feel so grateful!

love,
Sheila

January 2006

I went to the memorial service for Brian Niemeyer the other day and walked away with several observations that, to be honest, were quite challenging. Brian died in a tragic rafting accident while trying to rescue stranded rafters in December 2005. He was an acquaintance of mine whom I did not know real well. But we did share a common experience that allowed us to acknowledge one another when we saw the other person.

Let me stop for just a moment and say that I am continually amazed to me to see how God weaves people and experiences into our lives and teaches us lessons from these situations. It is truly humbling to experience God in that way.

OK, back to my story. About two years ago I first met Brian when he and I were working on a prop for a dance performance in which both of us had children. That prop was the stone table (the place where death was defeated by the Deeper Magic and Aslan came back to life) for the performance Adventures in Narnia. To make a long story short, let’s just say that the stone table required drilling for special fasteners so that a certain scene could be performed correctly. And let’s also say that the stone table had not been completed yet and, well, it needed to be done soon!! So he and I are drilling away as the show’s opening performance quickly approached. That’s right, we were racing the clock to get fasteners attached before the curtain went up and the prop was needed! In moments like these, people are often able to build friendships as they labor together for a common goal under stress. On that afternoon, Brian and I forged a relationship. To make a long story short, we completed the drilling and the stone table worked for the dance. The next year, they used the same stone table and Brian reinforced the original quick-fix job so that the fasteners were more solid. We talked about what he did and joked about our time together the previous year. That was the last time I conversed with him.

Fast forward now to January 14, 2006, and the memorial service for Brian’s life. I did not really know Brian like so many of the others did at the service. All I knew was that he was a humble, fun-loving guy with a great work ethic, and that we had a shared experience together. I also knew that close friends of mine were spending large amounts of time assisting and loving on the family as they went through unimaginable pain with his loss. I was present at the memorial service to show support for Brian’s family and my friends who were supporting his family. As many of you know, I have a tendency to show emotion from time to time. But as I entered the service on this day, I really did not feel like I would be overcome by emotion in this setting. Oh, did I have a lot yet to learn that day…

What followed was a maze of thoughts and convictions that poured through my head and was hard to capture and verbalize afterwards. Please bear with me as I try to describe what I learned that day.

We’ve all heard it several times before: When you die, what really mattered? What will people say about you at your memorial service? What will the pictures they show on the big screen communicate? What memories are left for family and friends? Judging by the testimonies and emotion I witnessed at Brian’s memorial service, I gathered that he left behind many wonderful memories. But during the service, I overheard a comment that struck me in an interesting way and really made me reconsider some preconceptions I had. For this comment is one I know I have thought before, and I’m sure many others have, too. I heard someone suggest Brian would say, “Don’t mourn for me.” Well, I don’t know what Brian would probably have said, but that comment left me unfulfilled—however I wasn’t sure why. During the rest of the service, several speakers talked of the hope we have in Jesus Christ to not only believe His will is ultimately good, but that He is able to help us through our pain, too. I believe these statements are true. I believe God’s grace is sufficient for us to work through any circumstances. And so I took these thoughts in stride and continued participating in the service.

And then we reached the slide show part of the program where pictures from his life were displayed. Beginning with his younger years and continuing to the present, the show depicted several wonderful images that appeared to be beautiful memories for he and his family and friends. It was at that this point that my attempts at restraining my emotions failed me, and I began to understand why the comment “Don’t mourn for me” did not sit quite right with me. Amidst the many pictures, I saw multiple images of wonderful family times. And at that moment, it became painfully apparent to me that future family pictures would not include Brian. For instance, there were still many experiences his daughters had yet to go through in their lives that I know they will wish their daddy was there to hold them, or stand by them, or just listen. Yes, I believe that we should not mourn for Brian – he is in a better place. However, I do not believe it is fair to say that phrase to his family, or for us not to mourn for his family. I mean let me be honest, how long will it take for me to forget the convictions I had as I left the memorial service about going home and hugging my kids and wife more, about spending more time wrestling with them, about reading more books with them, about not watching as much TV, about praying for them more, and about taking more pictures? Unfortunately, I know it won’t take too long. And this fact saddens me. But for Brian’s family, the fact that Brian is not coming home will be in front of them for the rest of their lives. It is ‘ok’ for them to mourn for Brian and grieve this massive lost. At the same time, I pray that we do not forget his family, or the ones we know of in our own lives experiencing pain, and fail to come along side them in the weeks, months, and years to come (or however long it takes).

As we move forward, I hope that we (the church universal, not just particular) can create an environment where we do not forget about those whose pain (mine too) continues on beyond our memories. It seems a shame to me if we were to let that happen to our own family members on our watch.

You might say, “I don’t know anyone in that position right now.” Maybe not. I would challenge you to keep your eyes open and be aware of those who do need love and compassion right now. I guarantee you they more often exist right in front of you than you may realize. Also, it does not matter if you are in grade school or retirement, there comes a time where we all need the support from one another. How you and I choose to come along side of each other in these times is what is important.

So where does that leave me today? I will always think of Brian when I see the stone table we worked on two years ago. I will remember the lessons I learned from his memorial service. I will remember that the stone table represents death defeated by the One true life giver. I will remember that we have the greatest hope ever in that One. And, most of all, I hope I remember to hug, snuggle, play, pray for, and tell the ones I love that I do on a more regular basis. Thank you for those lessons, Brian.

To begin with, 'diaBlog' is not really a word, which is a fact you probably already knew. It is pronounced "die-ah-blog." This term was created to communicate two different aspects of this part of the web page. First, we wanted to create a place where conversations could take place on a regular basis on various topics in life. Web logs (blogs) have become wildly popular for doing such a thing. Hence, the 'Blog' part of the title. And second, another word for conversations is dialogue. So, we (it wasn't my idea) combined the two words (blog and dialogue) to arrive at diaBlog, capitalizing Blog to draw your attention to that word.

So, there it is. I hope you enjoy reading the thoughts that will be posted here in the future!