Leah Sax:
Hello and welcome to Delight Podcast, I’m Leah, and this is Adam.
Adam Curtis:
Hello, hello, hello
Leah Sax:
Yeah that’s the bit you’re supposed to say hello! We’re off to a good start. here we are finally recording day one after weeks of Zoom and Google Docs. And Adam, I have one massive question for you, which is, why on earth should anyone listen to delight podcast?
Adam Curtis:
Because being a Christian is on one level really, really easy. And on another level, it’s really, really hard. And so we wanted to create a podcast, especially for new Christians, which would help them live for Jesus
Leah Sax:
Clearly I want examples of what you mean by a very, very easy and very, very hard.
Adam Curtis:
Take some take some pictures we see in scripture. I say, OK, we see becoming a Christian is like a blind man, being able to see this as a blind man. He meets the Lord Jesus Christ. He’s healed. Suddenly he can see this is as a picture of Christian, which is very, very easy. Suddenly, we’re spiritually blind. We met Jesus, we’re healed. We now can spiritually see. Our eyes like they’re open and suddenly like we can see reality for how it really is. And that’s the easiest thing in the world, because before we were stumbling around in darkness and now we can see clearly. But take another picture from scripture becoming a Christian. It’s like being born again. It’s like you become a baby and then you mean that means you’ve got to learn how to walk and how to talk and how to feed yourself. And actually that’s hard.
Leah Sax:
Yeah, I can see that my baby niece, she is just learning how to eat and she’s making a little bit of a mess, but she’s getting there.
Adam Curtis:
Yeah, exactly. Just like my little baby niece as well. Like she tries to put food in her mouth and most of it seems to go on the side of her face or like all over the floor. But that’s OK. It’s OK. Like little babies grow into toddlers and they grow into teenagers and they grow into adults. And actually how little kids grow up, God has given us means habits by which Christians can grow and mature.
Leah Sax:
Ok, ok. So could you describe our podcast as good Christian habits. Is that we’re chatting about.
Adam Curtis:
Oh that sounds really fun doesn’t it.
Leah Sax:
Habits good habits.
Adam Curtis:
As in Yes, it is about building biblical habits into your life, but it’s so much more than just about building biblical habits in your life, like it’s about just delighting in God and in his character and his nature. It’s a lot about, like a heart, which is just overwhelmed by his love and his generosity and his justice and his kindness. Actually the Christian life, it is habits, but it’s so much more than habits. It’s walking the rest of our lives with Jesus Christ, who is the lover of our souls.
Leah Sax:
Yeah. And I guess you picked up exactly there Why we called it the Delight podcast, because we’re delighting in the Lord and we’re continuing on, it’s a continuous journey. It’s not like you become a Christian and voila.
Adam Curtis:
Yeah. Oh no. Exactly. Exactly. Yeah. Actually, as we’ve been preparing for this podcast, I’ve been looking back over my life and I’ve grown as a Christian. It wasn’t it wasn’t like it finished, after a few years of becoming Christian. It’s still going on now. I’m still I’m still learning things right now.
Leah Sax:
Excited to see what the coming weeks hold in store for me to.
Leah Sax:
So why are you and I doing this, why are Adam and Leah recording on a Tuesday, spring morning when I could be enjoying a second cinnamon bagel with cream cheese
Adam Curtis:
Rather than going on a lovely springtime run.
Leah Sax:
Yeah, because that’s what I do every springtime morning.
Adam Curtis:
a good question. It’s sort of a lame answer on one level. So I’m a I’m training to become a vicar with the Church of England. And part of that training, they sent me an assignment to produce an online training course to help help people grow spiritually grow. That’s so I spoke to my boss and he was like, why don’t you do something? You Christians? And I was like, oh, why don’t I do a podcast? And then I remembered that the last time I’d been on a podcast, just as a guest, my friend Leah had mocked me and abused me
Leah Sax:
I was quite demanding.
Adam Curtis:
She’d mock me and made accusations that I’d abandoned her. But it was outrageous. I would do a podcast without her. And so I. I called you up Leah
Leah Sax:
And I don’t know why we just suddenly even the third person and you’re like, oh, now she’s here. As if I haven’t been here the whole time.
Adam Curtis:
So I called you earlier. And I was like, well, not even with any actual intention of you helping me, but just to let you know what was going on. So you didn’t feel like I was still ignoring you.
Leah Sax:
Thanks, Bro. And then I invite myself along right
Adam Curtis:
Here, a long life where you’re joking. And then I realise you weren’t. And then I’ve realised that I can’t say no.
Leah Sax:
Would you want to do it by yourself? I can leave. I mean,
Adam Curtis:
No, no. I too scared to do it by myself now. Why are you doing this
Leah Sax:
Because I like talking. No, I’m doing it, I do generally love talking to people and learning about them because other people know so many things. I’m excited to be thinking about how to love fellow brothers and sisters. I’m excited to ponder everything that we’re doing because even in our prep, I’ve been quite challenged about like, oh, this is this is what I should be doing, not should. But like I felt kind of rebukes already to be learning about this. I also thought it would be quite a lot of fun
Adam Curtis:
The pressure’s on now.
Leah Sax:
what’s going to be the vibe with what’s going to happen, what’s going to happen to week to week
Adam Curtis:
What are we going to look at? Yeah, some foundational truths which are really going to help just new Christians to grow and to mature and to develop and knowledge of the Lupo’s. They love the Lord. Yeah. So that so that they we the church can feel like we’re walking the Jesus day by day.
Leah Sax:
Amazing. I’m looking forward to it. Can’t wait.
Adam Curtis:
Yeah. No I can’t wait either. I actually like we just good friends of ours coming on. People we know, people we trust. People have got lots of experience, people
Leah Sax:
And often quite different walks of life in the sense that some are working, some are studying, some are working with young people. They’ve got different perspectives and they’re quite different personalities. So we know them quite well, thankfully. And it’s just nice because God created us all differently and uniquely and it’s nice to see those different experiences and outworking of God’s work in their lives.
Adam Curtis:
Ok, so that’s what delight podcast is and hopefully give people a bit of a flavour of what they’re going to be listening to, but very aware that lots of people protesting have no idea much about about either of us. So Leah let’s start with you. Tell me a little bit about your story
Leah Sax:
Ooo my story. OK, so I was born back in the 80s (ello!) To parents who love the Lord, who worked in Christian work and still do a bit as well as other work. So I grew up kind of in a it was very natural for me to see a kind of a Christian environment around me. But my first significant memory when I was about seven was my mum talking to me on my bed. Now it’s significant because my memory is terrible. So if I remember something I’ve learned through many years that it’s probably God going, Leah, this is this is important. So I was my bed, my bed at that time. I shared a room with my sister up against the wall, have these kind of like, dark wooden bed stand. And my mum was sitting at the side of the bed and I was lying in my bed. And clearly we’ve been chatting over something. And the question that resulted from my lovely mother was, do you want Jesus to be the boss of your life? And I went, Yeah, yeah, I do. And so, my mother said, if that’s what you would like to say, a prayer and I privately, my mum was still sat on the bed, just said, Lord Jesus, I’d like you to be the boss of my life. And that was kind of it. And yes, it was the most monumental thing that had probably and ever will happen in my entire life. And it’s really interesting looking back at that, because I think I had one of our pastor’s say frequently what brings someone to faith in the Lord is one big truth about God’s character, and for me, clearly, seven year old Leah needed to know that God was sovereign over over my life. And I guess looking back, since that my life has just been filled with just like faithful people showing me God’s word, how to live it. I just remember a small local church and just people like giving up time for, like youth groups and this lovely couple just making sure we always had Bible notes. And I realised that when I was 18, I actually had a woman who was a bit older than me read one to one with me, which I only clocked fifteen years later when I saw her husband at an event. And just what I’ve just realised, the significance your wife had in my life because she was just gently loving, teaching me how to live at quite a transitional time when you’re off to uni and also friends who kept putting me to Jesus like one of my best friends on paper. We should not be friends. We are chalk and cheese. She is a scientist. She likes sports. I am a creative cake lover who enjoys the theatre and but she is such a faithful friend. She you know, I’m accountable to her and I am so thankful for her. Yes, it’s been lots of people and it was only when I look back that I realise that’s what’s going on. And my work I work as a musician, which I love.
Leah Sax:
I love it. I feel really called to it. And I mean that from the biblical term of this is where the Lord wants me to be. I mean, part of that is proof of the fact that I am not a forward planner. I’m very organised. I pay my taxes very on time. But I’m someone who bumbles along in the moment and when the doors open, I just walk through them. I’m not someone who creates the doors in that kind of, like, CEO stance, but I can see the Lord really directing a kind of career trajectory. Blimey, say that twelve times fast, and taking me to places and people and just give me real opportunities to love and serve them. And it’s just been amazing to see God at work in that. And I’m so thankful that I also do a job I love. And amidst all that, I’ve just had the most faithful church family, which I’ve really felt mostly when I’ve had just real times of trial, when I’ve had friendships and relationships just completely shattered Me, and my church family. I just been that and scoop me up and been like, we’ve got you. We’re praying for you, you know, arms around me in a really tangible way. And just seeing that faithfulness, just keep going with me. And now here I am, you know, in twenty twenty one here I’m with you creating something for the Lord, which I’m just really excited about. So that’s my story.
Adam Curtis:
And what a story! I particularly like the moment when you and I don’t really plan things, I just go for open doors. I was like, oh, this is sort of like this podcast.
Leah Sax:
Yes. But what’s funny is how do we not been chatting about doing a podcast for like a year? We were like you and I, we should do something fun and creative for the Lord. And we were like, but we don’t know what. So you open the door. And I was like, Hello, I’m here with my well, I’m currently wearing is my leopard print Adidas top because, you know, let’s fake being a runner whilst being mildly glamorous. And here we are ready to to learn enough.
Adam Curtis:
Thanks for sharing your story, telling us how you came to know that Jesus has called you into into music because. Could you maybe tell us just a little bit more about how you have been growing over these over these years as a Christian, because the reality is that ou the Lord God has filled us with his spirit, he’s directing us, he’s taking us somewhere, and actually it’sy sometimes when we look back that we can start to see, like, his plans and purposes.
Leah Sax:
I know. Thanks for that question. Whenever somebody says, you know, what has it all been teaching you? Taking a moment to stop and think back is always very radical. Because I Don’t do it. I don’t go through the doors backwards
Adam Curtis:
That’s probably a good good thing for life.
Leah Sax:
I think the Lord has been teaching me and growing me that my identity is in him and not what I do and that I can trust him entirely with that. And for me that that really mostly speaks out in my performance life, like my work is to be on stage and to be everything to all people and to keep everyone entertained and to be the most fabulous, which I hope you can hear is a slight just in my voice, but only a slight jest, and especially with everything that’s happened over the past few years going like, no, you aren’t Leah the musician you are Leah the saved, loved, cherished, chosen daughter. And that’s who I am in all circumstances has been really important and giving me a great sense of peace about my work.
Adam Curtis:
Okay, can I push you
Leah Sax:
Yeah, of course.did you did you learn this in one moment? No. Was this a gradual process?
Leah Sax:
This has been a gradual and repeated process. And also I thought I’d learnt it and then moved on and turns out I hadn’t learnt it or I’d forgotten it and I had to relearn it again. So this is definitely a continuing thing. Every time I learn and or reminded where my identity lies, it’s like a brand new concept, like, oh, my goodness, Leah, you forgot. And here I am, you know. Thirty six years old and working professionally for 15 years. And sometimes I can relearn that as if it’s the first time I’ve heard it. We’re broken. And that’s, you know, such a joy why we need to be in fellowship with one another every now and again. A brother or sister could be like, Leah…. Do you think perhaps priorities’boop’ They used the exact vocabulary, they just use sound effects, no actual words, so I’m continuing to.
Leah Sax:
So bro we’ve definitely had enough Leah musician stage hat, I am so blessed to have known you for at least 10 years, but I want you to thank you. Thank you. It’s true. I’m so thankful for our bizarre friendship. Not bizarre, fabulous. tell me your story,
Adam Curtis:
I don’t think my friendship is over with someone who’s ever been described as fabulous before. But we’ll tell you that. We’ll tell you that my story I. Yeah, our great privilege of growing up in a Christian home with a mom used to read Bible stories to before bedtime, and the dad used to take us along to youth group at church where he helped lead it. I remember very strongly being a little boy and making a list of in my head of all my toys and the which ones I love the most. sSrious, very serious moment, which was I love the most. And then I thought, oh, I’m doing things I love the most. Maybe I should throw my family in there. So is like a different family members all my toys, my brothers. And then I was like, what if I’m taking a list of things I love the most? I probably should put Jesus right at the top because he’s the most important. I have a very clear memory of this as a little boy acknowledging that Jesus was the most important and that has always been the reality of my life, I’ve always known Jesus. Tragically I think for many Christians growing up in a Christian home, you hear a rich, liberating, great truth on a weekly basis at church. But there is a difference between an intellectual truth and heart level truth. So I knew Jesus and I was trusting Jesus. But it wasn’t until my late teens when there was this big argument, break out my friendship group. And suddenly I could see what sin was, this intellectual thing, which I knew and so I could see I mean, I can see sin in my friends, I can see it in my heart and I can see sin in how I’m treating them.
Adam Curtis:
I can see sin and how they’re treating me. And this moment was just groundbreaking for me because sin was no longer just the murderer and the big things. Sin was Now this posh little boy. And I could start to understand my sin and once I understood my sin, then I could start to grapple and grasp and comprehend like Jesus Christ and his grace and his mercy, which washes us and covers us and makes us clean. So that was a major moment of. Yeah of growth unsurprisingly. And then from that wow. Had a gap year, worked for a bit, went to Thailand, went to America, then went off to uni and Cardiff got involved with church in the Christian Union and stayed in Cardiff afterwards and had a great year working for the Students Union. But during that year working with the students union, even though I loved my job and I really did love my job, I realised the things I really wanted to do in life was to help people know and love and trust the Lord Jesus. Like, I just couldn’t think of anything else I wanted to do. And so I applied to do a job up in Edinburgh. Yep. Doing mission work with students. And then basically from that moment, Edinburgh to Tonbridge Wells to London, North London, now south London. I spent the last. Oh, good grief. Seven years, uh, probably longer, I am not going to get that out. How long is it?
Leah Sax:
I’m a musician not a mathematician?
Adam Curtis:
Yeah, seven and a half years. Yes, spent the last seven and a half years to increase your ministry, helping people to love and follow Jesus Christ.
Leah Sax:
I feel like you and I, you know, had that similar Christian environment upbringing. Both went to uni. But I feel at that point, both of our paths went kind of different directions, I guess. What working in in Christian work specifically? What do you think the Lord has been teaching you? Challenging you?
Adam Curtis:
Wasn’t ready for that question.
Leah Sax:
Surprise!
Adam Curtis:
Over the years, God has been. Sometimes day by day, sometimes year by year. Teaching me and showing me and revealing me more about his character and about his nature, and I see that, I see that and I feel that, I probably feel that in the hard moments and being honest. I remember moving up to Edinburgh and just feeling very isolated and very lonely and really struggling to just find my feet in this new place, in this new job where until that moment, I’ve been surrounded my whole life with like friends and my buddies and and I found life very easy. And then suddenly I thought, woah, I’m actually finding the normal everyday life very hard because I feel very isolated. And in that in that hard moment, God was teaching me a lot about how I’d learn, about where I thought my hope and security was, that I started to turn friendships, beautiful friendships, into my sources of security. And I was like, if I have these good friendships, then I am secure in Jesus. And I think Jesus took me to a place where I didn’t know anyone to show me that you’re secure in me because you’re secure me. These friendships are my gifts and they’re wonderful and they’re good, but they do not they in and of themselves, not the entirety of my life, of my love for you, Adam.
Leah Sax:
So, Adam, now you’re at you’re a curate in Sidcup, having learned to basically give everything to the Lord and find your utter security there. How has that changed the way you do your your work? You live your life now.
Adam Curtis:
It’s changed my priorities. Who do I want to live for and what do I want my life to look like? And actually, this flows into everything. Flows into my masculinity, it flows into my relationships, it flows into how I use my time, how I use my money. As as over the years, I’ve been growing in my knowledge and confidence that the Lord is number one. Yeah. And I want to put him first again and again. This has absolutely transformed every element and part of my life. And what I find interesting, saying that statement, is that wasn’t a one big moment realisation or it would be fair to say, that wasn’t a one big realisation, which then had 100 percent effect on me. It was I was a truth which I realised again and again. And it was a truth grounded in in a life. Which was Rooted in Jesus, like reading his word every day, talking to him in prayer every day, meditating upon all that he said in the community of the church like it was the normal habits of Christian life, which transformed my vision. Actually I was willing to make great sacrifices for the Lord and to say no to to many to to many things, because I wanted to say yes to Jesus.
Leah Sax:
Amen brother. So encouraging to hear. Thanks for sharing.
Leah Sax:
We love to hear from you. You can find us on Instagram at Delight podcast and our email is Hello @ podcast dot com. If you fancy Twitter and Facebook, just search delight podcast. If you think what you’ve heard today might be of interest to others, please do like subscribe. This is Adam and Leah delightfully signing off.
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