Monday Morning Briefing (August 25, 2025)

Good Monday morning! Cooler temperatures are here and there is a lot for which we might give thanks! I was able to do a little more prep than usual, so there is of course more material to cover than we can possibly manage. This is what is planned, so far:

GMC Malawi is inaugurated - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Gx6BBg8WM/ and https://www.facebook.com/john.pena.5036/posts/pfbid02uyUqxTkBybfMeJnzZqM4UHnu5FoKHubza1WkEL8qqsWSZGP8eweiCa2JAJaZxw2Ll

“How Easy It’s Been: Trump Outshines Predecessors In Work With Africa” by Natalie Sandoval of Daily Caller - https://dailycaller.com/2025/08/21/trump-obama-biden-compare-presidents-africa-diplomacy-nigeria-uganda-migrants/

Wesley Biblical Seminary reports record enrollment - https://youtu.be/ctA14aCreJk?si=U2Vtp9ocK_rB-cpC&t=65

Guidestone increases health insurance plans by 4.5% - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18PWtQ4nwq/ and GMC Benefit Bulletin | 2026 Clergy Health Insurance Premiums - Insurance is often more expensive than being uninsured - https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/1958879618519474615

Bill Ury and Stephen Blakemore, both of WBS, publish articles explaining basics of Wesleyan soteriology - https://goodnewsmag.org/the-grace-that-awakens/ (Prevenient Grace) and https://firebrandmag.com/articles/methodisms-theological-gift (Ordo Salutis) and then also Wendy Deichman of UTS (Christian Perfection) - https://goodnewsmag.org/transformational-love-of-god-christian-perfection/

PCUSA heresy from the pulpit in prayer (First Pres. Iowa City) - https://x.com/Protestia/status/1959292659643638102

Roman Catholic blessing of biker and raver cultures - https://x.com/Protestia/status/1958948958388330832 and https://x.com/Protestia/status/1959745101233553707
———————————

If you would like to join my Locals community to help support this ministry, go to plainspoken.locals.com and become a supporter!

If you would like to subscribe to my pastoral Substack, where I publish articles on topics pertaining to pastoral ministry and Methodism, you can go to jeffreyrickman.substack.com.

If you would like to subscribe to the PlainSpoken Podcast Substack, where I publish articles, video, and audio pertaining to Methodism and the culture war, you can go to plainspokenpod.substack.com.

If you're not interested in any of that stuff, but you want to give directly to my church, you can go to https://tithe.ly/give?c=2198808 and make a donation there. Thanks!