Over the past few years I have been introduced to a variety of ways to communicate with family and friends, and people I have never heard of. The Wonderful World of Web networks has enabled instant contact with anyone who has a computer, an internet connection, and the inclination to sign in, sign on, or sign up to engage in conversation, share information, post pictures, or just say, "Hi."

In this first Blog (Bruce Log) I'm going to make a confession, then an apology and then offer some advice. That's what usually happens with repentant people: You are sorry for something; you apologize for it, change your behavior, and then tell everyone else that they should, too. Well, sorry, but here goes:

I'm already tired of Facebook, Twitter, Ning, forums, networks, on-line chat, instant messaging, text messages, blogs, posts, uploads, downloads, avatars, icons, jpgs, mpgs, and all the bells, whistles, and other notifications that come along with all these things. Okay, that's my confession.

I apologize. I'm sorry because I think all of these things are truly very helpful and they can be used very effectively for communicating important things with people, literally, around the world. I recently ‘chatted' with a friend I hadn't spoken to since 1987. I can ‘talk' with a missionary friend in Japan, for free, anytime we're both on-line. Unbelievable. And terrific. So, I'm sorry that I've grown weary of trying to keep up.

Now, let me give some advice (and I'll try to take my own in this): Choose your on-line communities carefully, and just enjoy them from time to time. It isn't about keeping up with everything that's out there, but using some of these tools to establish, affirm and/or renew relationships in unique ways. I can talk to Denny in Minneapolis or Dean in Japan (I will soon, Dean!).

I've started a couple of on-line communities using Ning sites (www.ning.com) over the past two year and I can't think of a better tool to use for groups that have members in far-flung places to communicate news, information and ideas. Thing is, you've got to have active users. There has to be a reason for people to want to go to the site. So, both those sites have been irrevocably deleted from the WWW and no longer exist (sorry, Jason) due to lack of activity. But, I have high hopes for future ventures with Ning and other services like it. District pastors, Synod committees, Cluster groups, Youth worker networks, or any group of people with similar interests can be invited into on-line communities that will greatly help them stay in touch.

I've grown to understand that Facebook and Twitter, and all the rest, are just plain fun for most people, and, these days, that's a very good thing. But, you already knew that. Blog on!

Pastor Bruce Stumbo is Editor of Faith & Fellowship and serves on the pastoral staff at Bethel LBC in Grand Forks, ND

By Bruce Stumbo

Rev. Bruce Stumbo serves Inspiration LBC as Interim Pastor. He is also the author of the B-Log (Bruce Log).

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