This month on the New Bus . . .

A miracle on the sea, a wave in space and time, and the future of “gene-editing”. . .

The Amen Boat Rescue

A miracle happened in the ocean this past month when two teenagers swimming at a Florida beach were swept away by a strong riptide and brought a mile and half away from shore. After almost two hours of fighting the current and going further and further away, treading water and losing strength, one of them began to pray to God for help. It was right after this that a boat titled “The Amen” showed up on the scene! The captain of the boat reports that he heard distant screaming, but he almost dismissed since it wouldn’t make sense to hear screaming two miles off-shore. Yet somehow over the sound of wind, waves, and engine noise, the cries for help reached his ears and he looked out and saw the flailing arms of two teens a considerable distance away. Everyone involved called the entire situation a complete and absolute miracle. Shivering, pale, and near exhaustion, the two were safely brought into the boat and rescued.

When the captain told the kids the name of the boat, they began to cry and give thanks to God. The captain had been considering repainting and renaming the ship… He has since decided otherwise.

The Future of LIGO

This story is about a different type of wave than the ones found in the ocean… The large complex pictured below is called LIGO. In 2015, it gave humanity the first evidence of “gravitational waves,” which are fluctuations in the very fabric of space and time. For some time now, LIGO has been shut down in order to receive some much needed upgrade and repairs; but as of last month it is up and running again. Major discoveries and new revelations about the universe are expected to come from it.

The implications of this cannot be overstated. Einstein predicted the possibility of gravity waves through equations and thought experiments written out on paper; however, we’ve never had the technology to actually observe one until LIGO came around. Once launched, it picked up on several gravitational waves, thus proving Einstein right.

But this is more than just finding out a cool discovery regarding space and time. This is a totally new way of observing—and thus exploring—the universe. As an example, it is believed new kinds of stars will be discovered through the data that comes from these waves. A whole new realm of discovery is going to open up in the years ahead.

Gene-Editing

One of the most intense discussions in the world today revolves around new technology and procedures that can edit and change the genetic make-up of human beings. For the first time ever, a person (actually two people – twin girls) were born after their genes had been adjusted when they were just a microscopic embryo. They were the children of a father with HIV and the gene adjustment involved a small part of the DNA that can completely fight HIV if properly activated. That gene was successfully activated, making them insusceptible to HIV.

On one end, this is a wonderful thing. On the other end, this prospect of gene-editing opens up a whole new world of concerns and frightful possibilities. Already, scientists and governments have condemned the work of the scientist behind this particular situation.

This is probably the making a much larger article and discussion, but suffice it to say that in the New Bus, we believe in a hopeful view of the future where the Kingdom of God will get larger and larger on planet earth (i.e. Daniel 2:34-35). Darkness will abound, and problems will happen, but God is much more involved with the flow of history than we realize. Interestingly, the women who is chiefly responsible for discovering and unearthing this technology is already calling for wisdom and reflection on how things develop from here. In her book, she writes about dreams she’s had that involve both great warning and great encouragement. She may or may not acknowledge it, but God is speaking to her and actively watching over the way this goes! More on this topic in the future.