Best Vacation Spots for Christians

Posted on by TT
a traditional ferry sailing on the bay of tokyo

Are you looking for a vacation destination that is perfect for your family? Christians often search for a family-friendly vacation spot that is both fun and encourages spiritual growth. Fortunately, there are several great destinations in the United States that fit the bill. Let’s take a quick look at some of the best vacation spots for Christians in the US.

Orlando

While the first vacation destination that comes to mind when people think of Orlando, Florida is Disney World, there is also a Christian theme park that all believers should visit. The Holy Land Experience allows guests to walk through lifelike Bible scenes, see fantastic productions, and play in the Children’s Adventure Land.

Kentucky

Both the Ark Experience and Creation Museum are located in Kentucky. These exceptional museums are Biblically-based themed parks where tourists can learn more about the Old Testament while having fun and exploring the life-sized Noah’s ark. Touring the museums takes several hours because they also offer interactive exhibits, play areas, and food venues. Plus, guests can find unique religious art for their homes in the souvenir shops.

Christian Cruises

If you would rather not stay in one place, you can always take your family on a Christian cruise. Cruises are terrific vacation options because you do not have to drive, cook, or clean. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and have a great time with your family! What makes a Christian cruise unique is that is caters to believers and their families offering praise and worship opportunities, Bible studies, and more.

Final Vacation Suggestions

Even if you do not travel to a specific Christian destination, you can still incorporate your faith into your trip. While on vacation, consider visiting a local church, finding ways to serve in the area, or doing devotions as a family.

Get to Know 3 Man-Made Lakes in Charlotte

Posted on by TT
mountails and lake

Charlotte, North Carolina is a landlocked city – it is completely surrounded by land. However, this does not mean that you miss out on all the water fun if you are living in Charlotte. The largest city in the state of North Carolina is home to several lakes. These lakes provide a venue for boating, swimming, and other water activities.

If you are living in Charlotte, it is good to take advantage of what these lakes have to offer. Make sure to spend some time in three of the best ones:

  • Lake Norman. The biggest man-made freshwater lake in North Carolina, Lake Norman is also the most popular. Not only is this lake a place for recreation, it also provides electricity to the Piedmont region of North Carolina, which includes Charlotte, Greensboro and Winston-Salem, Pinehurst and Sandhills, and Raleigh, Durham and the Triangle. Aside from providing electricity, Lake Norman also supplies water to Charlotte and other counties. As for recreational activities, among the things you can do in the Lake Norman State Park are fishing, boating, wakeboarding, rowing, and sailing.
  • Lake Wylie. Another man-made lake, Lake Wylie is also a reservoir and provides power to the Wylie Hydroelectric Station. This lake is a common recreational destination for both North Carolina and South Carolina residents. There are towns located along the lake and there are numerous public boat access areas. It is a great place for boating, camping, trail hiking, and picnics, among others.
  • Mountain Island Lake. This lake is the smallest man-made lake in North Carolina. Although it also provides power to the Mountain Island Hydroelectric Station, the main function of Mountain Island Lake is to provide drinking water to residents of Charlotte and other areas of Mecklenburg County and Gaston County. Boating and fishing are some of the popular activities in this lake.

Preparing to live in Charlotte? Check out the Bellhops city guide to learn what this city has to offer.

Talcum Powder and Cancer: What You Need to Know

Posted on by TT
close up of hand holding cup

The spotlight has been on talcum powder recently because of some high-profile lawsuits involving it. If you use talcum powder and you are concerned about its safety risks and how it is linked to cancer, here are some of the things you need to know:

Talc is the ingredient that is linked to cancer.

Talc is a mineral that is made up of several elements, mainly magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. It is considered the softest mineral on earth and its softness and silky texture are the main properties that led to it being used in baby powders. Most baby powders are talcum powders – their main ingredient is talc.

There are two kinds of talc – talc that contains asbestos and talc that does not contain asbestos. The talcum powder lawsuits involving Johnson & Johnson involve asbestos-free talc which is what the company uses for their products.

Studies have been done to see check if talcum powder causes cancer.

Numerous studies have been done over the years to look for a link between talcum powder use and cancer as far back as 1971. Among these is the use of talcum powder on the genital area. Some cancers associated with this are ovarian cancer and uterine cancer. There have been studies as well looking at the possibility of talcum powder causing lung cancer and stomach cancer when inhaled. The ovarian and uterine cancer risk being associated with talcum powder is when it is applied on the genital area. The studies suggest that the talcum powder particles get into the vagina, the uterus, and the fallopian tubes, causing inflammation which eventually develops into cancer tumors.

Only some of the studies show a link between talcum powder use and cancer. Some fail to show any link between talcum powder and cancer. Because of the unclear connection between them, many doctors and health professionals now think it is still best to avoid exposure to talcum powder to possibly lower any cancer risk it may have.

Johnson & Johnson has been asked to pay the plaintiffs in five cases amounting to a total of $724 million.

If there is still no clear cancer risk with the use of talcum powder, how come Johnson & Johnson lost several talcum powder lawsuits? The big problem lies in the fact that Johnson & Johnson knew about these studies linking talcum powder and cancer, but failed to put any kind of warning on their products. This possibly makes them liable for negligence for not informing users of their baby powder about the possible risk of ovarian cancer.

There are other powder products that do not contain talc.

If you are concerned about the risk of cancer associated with talcum powder use, the best thing to do is to avoid using talcum powder altogether. There are many alternative products that are available such as cornstarch-based powders. Alternatively, you may also choose to stop using powder altogether.

If you have been diagnosed by ovarian or uterine cancer and has been using Johnson & Johnson baby powder on your underwear or genital area, it is best to get in touch with a lawyer to discuss the possibility of filing a lawsuit.

10 Essentials for Your Range Bag

Posted on by TT
a target practice sheet in a shooting range

A lot more goes into a trip to the gun range than many can imagine. Safety is the number one priority at any shooting range, indoor or outdoor, and that means you need to pack some protective items in your range bag.
Along with your safety gear, you’re going to want to pack a few additional items that make your experience easier and more enjoyable. Before you purchase any of the items on this list, it’s important that you have a good range bag that can comfortably pack your guns and all of your items.

Here are ten essentials to keep in your range bag at all times:

  1. Hearing Protection

One of the most important things when firing a weapon is protecting your hearing. It’s a good idea to always keep foam earplugs handy inside your range bag along with a pair of quality earmuffs. Electronic earmuffs and earplugs are slightly more expensive but effective and well worth the price.

  1. Shooting Glasses

It’s equally important that you protect your eyes when spending a day at the gun range. Shooting glasses are sold both tinted and clear for indoor and outdoor ranges.

  1. Tape

You’re going to need something to keep your target in place, and a strong tape will do the job. You may even want to pack a stapler, if you prefer doing it that way.

  1. Targets

You’ll probably find a lot of interesting targets for sale at your gun range, but there are even more available online. Pro tip: try using color coded stickers to mark and keep track of your shots at different distances.

  1. First Aid Kit

It’s no secret that injuries can occur at a gun range, indoors or outdoors. Minor scrapes, scratches, and burns are extremely common and they shouldn’t put a damper on your day. Make sure to carry some band aids, disinfectant, and burn ointment in your bag at all times.

  1. Hand wipes

Firing weapons will leave your hands dirty and full of grime that can contain lead and other toxic materials. Keeping your hands clean will prevent you from getting these chemicals in your mouth or inside any scrapes and cuts.

  1. Gun Oil

You always want to have some gun oil or lubricant handy in your range bag. This ensures that your weapon is well taken care of and functions as it should for the safety of yourself and others.

  1. Gun Cleaning Kit

Cleaning your gun regularly can prevent disastrous accidents from occurring such as explosions or slamfire. A good kit should contain gun cleaner, cleaning patches, brushes, and cleaning rods.

  1. Squib Rod

You should decide when your time at the gun range is done for the day, not a stuck bullet. Squib rods are good to have in case you need to dislodge a bullet from the barrel.

  1. Snacks, Water, and Other Outdoor Necessities

When you’re going shooting outdoors, it’s always good to have water and a snack packed. Sunblock is a must, and bug repellent is equally necessary during mosquito season.

Every shooting trip will require different things depending on where you’re going and the type of gun you’ll be firing. Make sure to keep these items handy any time you take your gun out of the house.

4 Ways to Control your Cholesterol Levels through Exercise

Posted on by TT
woman doing yoga outdoors

We are given the gift of life only once, and we all know that we don’t get any second chances at life. Therefore, it only makes sense that we try our best to make sure that we are living our lives healthily and cheerfully. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with high cholesterol levels in your body, then you must be worried about it. Well, if you are reading this blog, then stop worrying because we are going to cover everything that you need to know about lowering cholesterol levels through exercise.

Here you go:

Make Running and Jogging a Part of Your Lifestyle 

Many researches have shown that it may be possible that it may be “which one” rather than “how much” exercise you are doing matters. I can’t say much about other medical problems, but when it comes to cholesterol control, jogging and running are going to help you a lot in lowering it. 

So, make sure that you go jogging and running an active part of your lifestyle. When you jog every day, you’ll be able to see a visible difference in your cholesterol levels.

Have Fun and Lower Your Cholesterol – Bike to Work 

If you don’t have time to go for a jog every day, or if you have any other medical complications that stop you from running, then here’s a solution for you. Start going to your work on your bike. Not only is it going to lower down your cholesterol levels, but it is also a very unique and creative way to go to work.

So, if you have high cholesterol levels and want to improve your health while having a little fun out of it, then buy a bike and enjoy your clean and healthy rides to work.

Learn to Strike Some Yoga Poses 

Understandably, you don’t have the energy to exercise every day. Some days, you are just not feeling like it. But, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t move at all. Learn some yoga poses for the days when you feel low but move every day no matter what.

Start Taking the Right Medication 

You must take the right medication along with making exercise a part of your routine. Taking the right medication means that you must know if the medicine is going to suit you or not. For example, Simvastatin side effects include elevated liver enzymes. So, if you have any liver condition, avoid this medicine.