Podcasts

The title of this podcast Riding on the Clouds is taken from the Bible. The theme of this podcast is Revival. The purpose is to explore what the bible says about Revival and to seek for how this impacts us in our present time. The main speaker is Rev Richard Lane from Sydney, Australia.
Richard also has a blog page linked with Riding on the Clouds.
That can be found HERE
Episode 1:
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This first episode introduces the subject of revival with reference to some words of the late JI Packer. The Rev Dr Jim Packer died in July 2020 and this opening episode is largely composed of a tribute written by Leland Ryken to the late JI Packer. While this may not appear to be linked to the theme of revival, this first episode is tightly linked to the following two episodes which expand upon the meaning of the podcast title 'Riding on the Clouds' and explain that link. As well, the teaching of Jim Packer on revival will form the substance of discussion in later episodes and so this tribute is all the more fitting. The main speaker presenting the podcast is Rev Richard Lane, an Anglican minister in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney, Australia. This podcast follows on from YouTube devotionals which Richard presented for his church members during the lockdown period. The writing and influence of the late JI Packer had been discussed in those later episodes and so this tribute also continues that presentation although it is introducing a new theme, namely, Revival.
Episode 2:

This second episode continues a discussion about the title of this podcast 'Riding on the Clouds'. The discussion is between Richard and Emily and was recorded on 10th August 2020 along with the first episode. The date itself serves to provide insight into the gracious hand of the Lord, while the subject of grief and its connection with Revival is further explored. Excerpts from the book 'A Grief Sanctified' by the late JI Packer are read as the subject of Christian hope is presented in the midst of a world in which we experience grief.    This hope is an implicit component of Revival which at its heart is the bringing of comfort to those who mourn for the kingdom of God. The main speaker is Rev Richard Lane who is an Anglican minister in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney.
Episode 3:
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In this episode Richard sets out the format for exploring the theme of Revival. The  general shape will involve History - Commentary - Bible. In this episode that begins in NSW in 1864, then moves to the commentary of the historian, Dr Stuart Piggin, before closing with part of a sermon by Ray Ortlund on Isaiah 64:1.

Episode 4: 
In this episode I look at various definitions of Revival (Brian Edwards, Iain Murray, JI Packer). I then turn to Stuart Piggin's definition in his book 'Firestorm of the Lord'. I examine Stuart's discussion of the way Revival is connected to the concept of being Awake as described in Scripture in a passage like Mark 13.

Episode 5:

This episode begins with Ray Ortlund Jnr's definition of Revival, and the plea and argument that Ray makes with respect to seeking for Revival. The historical segment of this episode is centred on the lead up to the Welsh Revival of 1904 and the prophetic word of Dean Howells in the 1902 December issue of Y Cyfaill Eglwysig (which was a monthly Welsh language religious periodical of the time).

​Episode 6: Christmas Edition

From Moab to Bethlehem, Wilcannia to Eastwood, this is a Christmas 2020 episode with an Australian flavour. Richard returns to JI Packer's work on the ESV Bible and begins with a discussion of the ESV 'word-for-word' approach in its translation and illustrates this by looking at Ruth 1:6 (return to Bethlehem). After this, the move is to the poet-preacher Wilfred Mailler who served as an Anglican minister in Wilcannia in the early 1900s and who also turned to Bethlehem when he wrote a poem entitled Christmas Eve. Mailler's mother was the first cousin of The Australian poet, Henry Kendall. The episode closes with a classic Australian story about the origins of the Granny Smith apple in Eastwood, as well as returning to the manger, to Moab and Balaam's Ass.
"We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake" 
2 Corinthians 4:5
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​St Stephen's Anglican Church
1 Bellevue Park Road, Bellevue Hill NSW 2023, Australia
ststephensbhill@gmail.com - 02 9389 9615