If I were to make a list of my top ten favorite blogs to read, it would certainly include Blogging Theologically by Aaron Armstrong. One of the first things I saw when I went online after my unexpected long weekend without internet was a Tweet announcing that this blog moved to a new site; I thought it would be a good opportunity to point out this gem.

While it might not have been the first I read, "Selling Ointments and Stealing from Moneybags" was one of his first articles I remember reading. It made me think and has certainly influenced how I think about poverty. I particularly liked the sentence "We pursue justice, not because we can end poverty, but because Jesus will."

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When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor and Yourself by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert (with Fikkert being the primary writer) presents thought-provoking information and ideas aimed at helping the church truly help those in poverty.

I enjoyed the theological groundings and challenging ideas, but I felt frustrated by unanswered questions. Overall, I would recommend it to most Christians.

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Through Book Sneeze, Thomas Nelson Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of The Hole in our Gospel by Richard Stearns to review. Stearns narrates his journey from a business executive to president of World Vision. He encourages readers to give everything to God and show faith through works, particularly toward those in need.

I enjoyed the narrative portions of the book; I found myself glorifying God for the work He has done in Stearns’ life and through Stearns’ work in the lives of others. I think this book is helpful in exposing American Christians (including myself) and churches to our need to act.

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