Andy here from the Fulfillment Project. This was one of those interviews where I hang up the mic and just sit there, staring at my notes, feeling like I’ve been handed a roadmap to life. Pastor Jackson Lahmeyer laid it down. As the host, I went in with my copy of his book Chasing After the Wind ready to dive into happiness, purpose, and the wild ride of faith in modern America. But what unfolded was more than a podcast episode; it was a personal reckoning with my own chase for fulfillment. Let me pull back the curtain on our talk, sharing the highs, the raw moments, and the insights that left me rethinking everything from late-night snacks to legacy-building. If you’ve ever wondered why we’re all running after the wind, stick with me…this one’s a journey.
Setting the Stage: Welcoming Jackson
I kicked things off by welcoming Jackson, lead pastor of Sheridan.Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a place that’s evolved from Sheridan Road Assembly of God over 74 years, now with a campus in Oklahoma City too. He’s a dad of five, with his oldest hitting 16 soon (I could feel the parental solidarity across the screen). But we quickly zeroed in on his book, subtitled Why Nobody is Catching What Everyone is Chasing. Holding it up, I told him straight: “I could slap my name on this and call it the Fulfillment Project book.” He laughed, and we were off.
The Elusive Chase: Happiness as Wind
Jackson nailed it early: “Happiness is the one thing everyone chases, regardless of age, race, or background.” He confessed to his own guilty pleasure—Oreos late at night—not for health, but for that fleeting feel-good hit. It resonated; I’ve been there with my own vices-chips and salsa…and lots of it... We unpacked the cultural lie: “If I just had [fill in the blank], I’d be happy.” Kids? A bigger church? More success? You get it, and it’s gone. Jackson called happiness “like the wind”—elusive.
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Finding True Joy: Beyond the Illusion
The tension ramped up as Jackson shared stories of people chasing wrong paths: alcohol, sex, anything for euphoria. I asked about his experiences pastoring, and he flipped it to purpose: “If you want to be happy for a lifetime, get to know Jesus.” In God’s presence, there’s fullness of joy. It’s our strength against temptation and chaos. I reflected on my youth group trips, like the one Jackson canceled our recording for a few weeks prior. Going into it feels like such a commitment, but after the fact? Overflowing fulfillment. “Who gets more out of it, us or the ones being served?” Many times it’s hard to tell—a wild paradox.
The Writing Grind: From Planes to Hotel Lockdowns
Curious about his writing ritual, I probed: mornings, evenings, Word or typewriter? Jackson revealed Google Docs on planes and in hotels, turning his downtime into productivity. But the wall hit hard: rereading your own stuff until you’re sick of it. His fix? “Lock yourself in a hotel room until it’s done.” Three days, no phone, nicotine for focus (we bonded over that! #Velo #unpaidad). He upgraded to a suite: “If I’m going to suffer, I’m going to suffer well.” I shared my quarterly one-day retreats—mental marathons—and we laughed about the brutality. But he finished, and his second book? Just two days. Progress.
Bursts of Productivity: Consistency Meets Intensity
We tied it to productivity: consistency daily, but with bursts of intensity. “You need both to reach your destination,” Jackson said. I added: without consistency, sporadic sprints won’t cut it. Then, a detour inspired by Theo Vaughn’s podcast—edgy, hilarious, but raw on pornography’s downsides. Jackson noted the ease of access now versus our youth: “A 12-year-old with an iPhone has unlimited everything.” In his church, he’s built authenticity; no cringe when preaching on sex or addiction.
Breaking the Silence: Addiction and Accountability
We discussed counseling: confess to God for forgiveness, to others for healing. “Sin grows in darkness,” he said. Vulnerability, accountability—iron sharpens iron. I loved his line:
“The sin you hide is the sin you keep.”
Embracing Pain: The Path to Deeper Purpose
Pain surfaced next. I drew a line: “You need pain and adversity for deeper purpose.” Jackson agreed, no worthwhile achievement skips suffering. Fitness? Marriage? It’s all grit. His mashed potatoes analogy killed me: two stubborn spuds smashed together, peeled, messy, but the end product? Delicious unity. 11 years of marriage, I can attest to that!
We dove into Job—God weaving pain for good. Jackson’s story: 2021 vaccine mandates, signing exemptions, Washington Post hit piece. But it exploded to 75,000 forms, saving jobs. “What they meant for harm, God used for good.”
Navigating Politics: Faith in the Arena
Inevitably, we hit politics—Jackson’s red hat signaling his Trump ties. As founder of Pastors for Trump, part of the White House Faith Council, he was there when Trump signed the executive order. I asked the tough one: “How does a pastor support a guy with a checkered past: misogynist, xenophobe accusations?” Jackson was candid: “God only uses flawed people.” From Bible characters to us, we’re all “tore up from the floor up.” Trump’s pro-Christian actions? Unmatched.
Legacy and Impact: What’s Happening Now
What’s next? Jackson highlighted the Faith Office bringing 2,000 pastors to pray, border security curbing fentanyl and crime, rescuing lost children (heart-wrenching as a dad of adopted boys). Trump’s legacy? Raising leaders like JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and others. I noted: “Plant seeds that outlast you—like pouring into our children.”
Tools for the Journey: Hearing God and Forgiving
Wrapping up, I asked for tools to hear God’s voice: Bible first, dreams, people, that still small voice—practice discernment. On forgiveness: catch thoughts, change words, cultivate actions. His story of blessing a church-splitter? Heaping coals, but freeing himself.
Anxiety and depression? Eat, rest, know you’re not alone, seek God’s presence. “We’re herd animals,” he said; like sheep, we’re better together.
The First Step: Stop the Chase
Jackson’s first step to stop chasing? Recognize nothing worldly fills the void.
“Our hearts are restless until they find rest in Him.”
-Augustine
Wrapping the Conversation: Reflections and Next Steps
Reflecting post-interview, Jackson’s words linger. As I build Fulfillment Project: podcasts, books, online collateral, substack guides, it’s clear: fulfillment isn’t an accident; it’s cultivated in presence, pain, and purpose.
Check out Chasing After the Wind on Amazon or JacksonLahmeyer.com for a signed copy. Follow him at Sheridan.Church.
If this sparked something in you, hit subscribe for more reflections, self-guides, and episodes. Drop a comment: What’s your wind-chase? Let’s build fulfillment together.
Chapters:0:00 - Opening Thoughts on Happiness0:34 - Podcast Welcome and Introduction to Jackson Lahmeyer2:13 - About Sheridan Church, Family, and Ministry3:17 - Initial Impressions of the Book “Chasing After the Wind”4:51 - The Illusion of Worldly Happiness and Why We Chase It6:17 - True Joy Through Jesus and God’s Presence8:09 - Personal Growth from Writing and Teaching9:10 - Youth Group Experiences and Fulfillment from Service9:52 - The Book Writing Process: Airplanes, Hotels, and Routines11:23 - Nicotine, Focus, and Overcoming Family Health Concerns13:18 - Consistency vs. Short Bursts of Productivity14:08 - Open Discussions on Pornography in Church and Society16:43 - Counseling Tips for Overcoming Porn Addiction19:14 - Vulnerability, Accountability, and Community Support20:37 - Pain and Adversity Leading to Deeper Purpose22:47 - Marriage as a Refining Process for Growth23:32 - Lessons from Job: Suffering and God’s Purpose24:26 - Washington Post Story and COVID Exemption Impact26:39 - Founding Pastors for Trump and Political Journey27:36 - White House Faith Office: Origins and Mission29:00 - Defending Support for Trump as a Flawed Leader31:02 - Greatest Accomplishments in the Current Administration33:58 - Border Security, Fentanyl, and Rescuing Lost Children35:06 - Trump’s Legacy: Raising Up Future Leaders37:22 - Practical Ways to Hear God’s Voice Daily40:47 - Forgiveness, Relationships, and Lasting Happiness42:07 - The Three C’s of Practical Forgiveness45:46 - Blessing Enemies and Heaping Coals46:57 - Physical Discipline for Spiritual Strength in Marriage48:22 - Advice for Anxiety, Depression, and Mental Health51:28 - First Steps to True Fulfillment and Contentment52:37 - Final Advice: Stop Chasing the Wind54:11 - Where to Find Jackson, Book Details, and Closing
