Torah Talks

Jamie Foster offers to lead, talk to, study with any group about the Torah (first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy). He guarantees you'll gain some new understanding and perspectives. Jamie thought he had some grasp of these stories from a lifetime of church going. Let's just say he missed a lot over all the years. The goal is to understand the meaning and lessons in these texts. As Dennis Prager likes to point out all the time, Torah means Teach(er), not The Law. It teaches real life and much wisdom with which to deal with real life, for the individual, for the family, and for society.

Moral clarity on the big issues is the key to making moral choices throughout life. What's your guide book for your set of values? Mine is the Bible, and increasingly the Torah in particular. As Prager puts it, the Torah is The Manufacturer's Instruction Manual for the Human Being.

Make time to study the Torah! You'll be: elevated, happier; a better person.

What Does The Torah Say!?

Or WDTTS for short, see tab above. In August of 2021, I started a series of weekly essays to ask that question about the Sunday morning message at TimberCreek Church (TCC), Monument, CO where we attend. It's turned out to be a great journey, and even spawned two other sections to this website: Words and Bonuses (see the tabs above). Words is a listing of interesting Hebrew words that when understood properly bring a clearer and deeper understanding of the text. Bonuses are short essays that let me talk about anything I want to talk about.

Very Flexible Scheduling

Jamie is willing to discuss with you most any type of schedule you'd prefer, from a 1-time 30-minute talk to a full-blown study through the entire Torah. In-person and/or online. Jamie is in Colorado Springs. Never any charge.

Talks and courses can readily be adjusted for various age groups starting with 5th-6th graders.

Here's a sampling of possible 1-time talk topics:

Your Choice: request any topic about which the Torah might have something to say! Mother of All Evil You Can Do It Do not Favor the Poor American Idols Moses Blows It, Twice Holiness Guards Ethics That's not Kosher Torah and Slavery Clothing Makes the Man Can we say God-Fearing any more? Heroes and Villains Israel means "Struggle with God" Pick a Plague, any Plague Why Unleavened Bread? What does "Cut Off" Mean Does God Protect the Righteous? Chosen? Binding of Isaac "We Will Do and Hear." Backwards? Eye for an Eye Justice versus Compassion Where is God? A Talking Donkey?! But It's a Pagan Holiday Libation Anyone? It's not about Blood Pick a Current Event (One!) Arguing with God Most Tragic Character in the Torah The "Other" to Each Other Children of Israel Afterlife: Why is Torah Silent? What's Intrinsically Holy? Love Your Neighbor, not Humanity

Not 2x, Not 1/2x Blind Man's Bluff The Dignity Chapter Couple Dozen Verses: Paradise Who Invented the Week? Why God is Important Drinking the Golden Calf Not a Yod or Tittle America is an Idea, too Good Needs Evil, Sort of Building a Good Society Sunday is not the Sabbath Politically Correct vs Morally Correct When do I Feel Holy? Atonement: Assuaging Guilt Tabernacle Detail Ad Infinitum Pick a Commandment (One!) Abortion: Who Cares? Creation Explains a Lot Garden of Eden: Say what?! Perfection Not Required Don't Trust Cities Peace vs Pacifist The Meaning of Seven Marriage: Longest Chapter in Genesis Importance of Female Beauty: Unfair/Undeniable Gratitude is a Biggy You Think Your Family is Difficult Mr. and Mrs. Potiphar The Center of the Torah, Literally Jacob's Very Mixed Blessings Hardened Hearts I Am What I Am. Who? Hear, O' Israel What's the Manna with You? What Happened to Miracles?

Here's a sample "short course" of nine 1-hour sessions that Jamie led Aug-Oct, 2020: click here. The sessions were conducted live online and were also recorded so you can watch a sampling if you wish.

Contact Jamie to discuss possibilities...

About Jamie

Jamie grew up as a "PK" (Preacher's Kid) in the Presbyterian Church. He and his family joined a Methodist Church in the 1980s upon moving to California and is now part of TimberCreek Church in Colorado Springs having moved to the Springs a few years ago. Over the years, Jamie has held just about every position available at church including committee and board memberships and chairmanships. He (and his wife) have led youth groups, founded puppet troupes, and taught Sunday School. Jamie has created and led church adult study programs including: God is Good (Torah), St. Nicholas Tells His Story (45-minute 1-man play), In His Own Hand (four times God writes in His own hand), Is God Expanding Too? (cosmology and creation), Out of the Ashes ("resurrections"), and This Train is Bound for Glory (chapel railcars). He had a super time directing a church choir for over ten years (even took the choir on a concert tour in England). He and his wife, Lynn, have two married adult children, thirteen grandchildren, and so far has had five foster kids through/in the family.

They say one reaches a mastery level when reaching 10,000 hours of experience in the field. That's about 5 years at 40 hours per week. Jamie's got his 10,000+ hours in each of these fields: software development, small business, geology/gemology, teaching, railroading, and financial operations. While he's spent a lifetime immersed in the Presbyterian church, the Methodist church, and now an independent church, not much of that time was spent specifically on the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament, Genesis through Deuteronomy). However, since early 2020, Jamie's put in about 25% of those 10,000 hours studying Torah. Slowly but steadily, he's getting there. Join him on this journey!