This Special Resource Kit is part of the series of books using the poem "Beyond, Yet Still With You" to teach adults and children about God. The poem can be used - as a counseling asset (Where is God when I hurt so bad?) - as a grammar primer (What are prepositions of place, and how do we use them?), - as an introduction to theology (Where is God? Is He both "here" and "there"?) and in ways you might imagine. These notes will help you teach about the "immanence" and the "transcendence" of God. He is both "here" and "there" concurrently - "Beyond, Yet Still With You". The poem and this Kit will help in a bigger purpose: by knowing more about God and His character, we will experience more peace. ORGANIZATION The poem uses 7 prepositions of place (Beyond, Beneath, Above, Over, Through, In and Under), 2 locator words (Everywhere and Here) and 1 delightful term (Peace) to discuss, in simple terms, two challenging concepts: the location of God, and His ability to help us during times of trial. The first 5 prepositions address the question "Where Is God?" Beyond, Beneath, Above, Over, and Through. With the word "In", we begin our transition from "God as subject" to "me as subject". The word "Under" addresses the question "Where Am I?". Then comes a word of assurance about God: He is "Everywhere". Lesson 9 teaches that He is Here. Then we wrap up with Lesson 10, a word of Peace: The presence of God brings personal Peace. We also have included a bit of "special" or "bonus" material: (1) an invitation you can use to invite people to class, in both black and white and color; (2) suggestions for an opening lesson using the Psalm 77 adaptation from the book; (3) a review lesson; and (4) ideas for a Special Presentation by the class to an audience. These bonus items are presented in a way that can be easily adapted to local circumstances. Thus the kit has 13 lessons - enough material for a full calendar quarter. Throughout the poem and the lessons, we want to emphasize that the reader or learner is loved by God and protected by God. "Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely," Isaiah wrote in Chapter 32, "how blessed you will be". Even if it looks like Hell has broken out of its restraints and has come at you full strength, the assurance of God is that He will work all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. God will take care of us. He loves us. He is with us, even on the darkest of days. Each preposition of place used in the poem has a four-page treatment in this packet. Page A presents the poem portion, key concept, suggested memory verses, and art. Page B contains a series of verses pulled from the text of Scripture and related to the lesson. Page C has an in-depth treatment of the preposition intended as teacher's background. Page D presents a Classroom Presentation Outline (CPO). GUIDELINES Under ideal circumstances, the teacher will have the complete four-page handout for the preposition AND additional copies of the first two pages, one per student. Then each student can be sent home with a single sheet of paper which are printed on both sides; side A with the poem portion, art, key concept, and memory verses, and side B with pertinent Scripture verses. The pages in this book are NOT duplication masters. Five-Packs of Student Handouts (pages A and B) can be obtained from HushHarborBooks.com. Also, you can obtain the separate Student Workbook, which includes all pages A and B, plus two additional work pages for each lesson. Teachers should adapt the Classroom Presentation Outline to their class's age and maturity in faith as well as to the class size and time remaining and to the teacher's own style and personality. The CPOs have been carefully structured, but every class setting is unique. Therefore, we encourage you to use our structure as your own class outline, but adapt the activities to your class.
About the Author: In the Bible, God says through His prophet Isaiah, "My people will live in secure homes, in peaceful dwelling places, in quiet places of rest. Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, how blessed you will be." Steve and Karen Jameson treasure that verse. As pastor of an urban core church, and as headmistress of a Christian day school, they both saw how important it was for the children of God to learn of, and to trust in, God's grace and comforting presence. Steve also saw that when he was an Infantry Captain in the U. S. Army and when he was working in a difficult corporate setting. Karen saw it when she was teaching at an affluent suburban school and in a rural high school. Both of them see the constant need for God's grace in their daily lives. Steve is an honor graduate of the ROTC program at the University of Arkansas, and was graduated with honors from both the University of Missouri Graduate School of Journalism and Covenant Theological Seminary. Karen is a graduate of Missouri State University with a lifetime teaching certificate valid in several states. Now based in Saint Louis, Missouri, they were missionaries in Nigeria with their 2 daughters, now grown. Their work has taken them to Haiti, the Caribbean, India, Africa and Asia. Steve likes Bob Dylan, and Karen pretends she does not. Erin Brown spent her childhood in Nigeria; she is a wife, step parent, and artist. After working as a business consultant in several countries, she now lives in Saint Louis, Missouri with her husband, her stepson, and her Havanese dogs.