Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, blogs: there's no end of ways to get yourself connecting with friends and the wider world these days, all courtesy of "t'internet".

People scramble to expand their social network and express their views - whether that's by writing comments on YouTube or a news site, or by uploading their own video and creating an interest group online. Creativity, collaboration; it's exciting.

There's an obvious hunger within us to reach out to other people.

But there's also a strange irony. As people do all this they can still find themselves isolated; tapping the keys of a PC in their lonely bedsit, still hungry for relationship - despite the fact that they may have a thousand Facebook friends or more.

We're made for relationship. Real, direct and personal relationship - first with God and then with each other.

Social networking online has its uses for sure, but it can't be a substitute for a real bond of love between you and God - and you and your brothers and sisters in God's family.

God calls people everywhere to be His friends and to join together in His church - a family that gets together often to celebrate and to share burdens.

It's this heart-to-heart reality that is so fulfilling - as well as having a real shoulder to cry on from time to time. "Brotherhood love" lived out in real life is what meets our deepest need and heals our hurting hearts.

See also: Culture Vulture: Gadgets, gizmos and god-tech
Culture Vulture: The cross factor
Culture Vulture: Undying love

---

What's being said