Writer and storyteller Thomas Salerno joins host Jake Doberenz on Christianity Without Compromise (formerly Smashing Idols) to unpack the idols of achievement and purpose through his personal journey—from curating fossils at the American Museum of Natural History to discovering God-given gifts in writing and teaching. Thomas shares how divine providence redirected his dreams during the pandemic, why it’s vital to resist the “one perfect calling” trap, and how to base decisions on spiritual discernment rather than cultural expectations. Through saints and Scripture, he offers hope for those struggling with identity, calling, and self-worth. How can Christians trust God when our dream job falls through? Is there really just one path God wants us to walk?

Key takeaways:

Be kind to yourself—God never rejects the prodigal return: Engage in positive self-talk and reject harmful narratives that reduce your value to achievements.

God can redeem every path: Even when life doesn’t go as planned, your detours aren’t failures—He weaves all choices into His story.

Joy signals God’s blessing: When discerning between good options, follow the path that brings peace and creativity, not confusion and stress.

This episode is sponsored by the Future Christian Podcast:

Discover practical wisdom and inspiring insights from leading pastors, authors, and faith leaders on the Future Christian Podcast—empowering you to lead your church boldly into the twenty-first century.

Important Links:

The Spiritual Exercises - St. Ignatius Loyola

The Riddle of the Tongue-Stones: How Blessed Nicolas Steno Uncovered the Hidden History of the Earth by Thomas Salerno

Thomas Salerno’s Page Turning Substack - www.thomasjsalerno.substack.com

Magnificant prayer magazine

Thomas Salerno is a children's author, freelance writer, podcaster, and museum educator from Long Island, New York. His writing has been featured in two nonfiction anthologies, Tolkien & Faith and The Christbearer, both published by Voyage Comics. Thomas has also been published by Word on Fire, Busted Halo, and other outlets. He holds a bachelor of arts in anthropology from Stony Brook University. You can follow more of his work on Substack.

Follow this show and Jake Doberenz’s writings at jakedoberenz.substack.com.