| So here we are again on the eve of letting off a few fireworks again. Who was this guy, Fawkes, anyway? I know that a lot of people get cross about firework night. Disturbing the peace, upsetting babies and pets, and costing a near fortune to fire off a few rockets! It always seems ironic that we celebrate in such an explosive and incendiary way, an event in history that had as its intent the blowing up of Parliament. At a time when governments are being questioned here and across the pond in the USA, I am sure that there would be some who would say that we could do away with government. I'd be a rich man if I was given a tenner for every time I've heard my mum say "they're all the same" when referring to politicians of every party. We live in challenging times economically, morally, and socially. Every five years we mark our cross on a ballot paper (or not!) and expect things to change. Nearly 2000 years ago a cross in Jerusalem marked the ground for real radical change. A change in the condition of the human heart. The cross is about Jesus Christ. Jesus was executed on a cross alongside transgressors. Isn't it strange that many in the UK celebrate the execution of a criminal (Guy Fawkes in 1606) which saved Parliament, and do not acknowledge the Christ who was crucified to save humankind? Because of the cross, God is not cross with us, our sins are crossed out, and we can cross from death to life - but we have to repent and believe to receive the gift of eternal life. Now that message is explosive! To believe, or not to believe, that is the question. | 
