Does God Still Talk To Man?

Once again a wonderful discussion in Sunday School leads me to ask the reader this question.
We are studying I Samuel and were discussing the part in chapter 9 when God literally tapped Samuel on the shoulder and said "that's the guy" speaking about Saul as His choice for Israel's king.
We discussed the topic of God speaking directly to Samuel.
My stance is that Samuel was so close in his walk with God that he LITERALLY spoke with God and God spoke with him. How was this possible and can I do this today?
1 - Relationship
2 - Obedience

I believe that these are the two keys to knowing God in such an intimate way. I am only just now, after many years of not working very hard on this, trying to know God deeper and more intimately.
God never changes, we know that, but we sure do.
Why wouldn't God literally speak to man now as He did then? I believe He does and we don't always hear Him because we might be lacking in those two things above.

God help me to build a better relationship with you by reading Your Word and listening to your voice and help me to be obedient when I do hear Your voice and read Your Word.

Wow, talk about letting you in on my thoughts! What say you?

God, the same yesterday, today, forever

If that is true, which I do believe, then why do we continue to as Christians dwell on the "God is love, peace, mercy, flowers, waterfalls and bluebirds singing", when He is a God of great Judgement as well?
Are we missing half the story?
Our Sunday School class has been studying 1Samuel and specifically the "Ark Effect" in chapters 3-7. Read that sometime and then convince me that God isn't bringing judgement even now?

Someone in class pointed out that God could even be bring on some of the diseases and sicknesses we have now. That we might blame sin or the Devil when in fact it could be God. I don't know that I believe that for sure but, take a minute and a concordance and look up the term "hand of God" and see what it says. It was the same everywhere in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament, therefore if God doesn't change, his Hand is the same today.
Quote scripture to back up your thoughts please. Lets have Biblical discourse.