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Sean C. Johnson
Nov 3, 2009 - God just keeps showing himself to be an awesome (and Faithful) God. I just got word yesterday that the Kirk Franklin Concert I was slotted to open up for has been set for NOV 22nd!!!!!! It's a FREE event......Starts at 6pm!!! It's going to be held at Fairview Missionary Baptist Church....Hope to see you all there!!!
Oct 18, 2009 - I'm thanking God for his faithfulness. I dont know where I'd be without it. Thank you Lord for loving a wretch like me.
Sep 29, 2009 - As I sit here...I'm thanking God that the release concert went well (actually it turned better than I could have imagined). God is so Faithful. He just keeps opening doors that dont even deserve to be opened for me. I'll be posting clips soon for those who weren't able to attend. Also the album is available for purchase in the media section. Also you can go to iTunes or Amazon.com and purchase a digital download.
Sep 22, 2009 - Just getting back into town. Spent the weekend in beautiful Colorado Springs. It was quite the memorable experience. The whole "Life Without Lupas" team treated me like gold!!! I mean they went above and beyond for your boy. Fruit baskets, Platters of Fried Chicken in the fridge, Complimetary Dinner....I mean you name it they did it. Shout out to Re'Nai Frisco, Mark, Budda Boys, and The Tony Exum Band (Coldest band in the Mountain Time Zone). Thank you for making my weekend there a memorable one.
Sep 13, 2009 - "Wheat" or "Tares".....?? Which one are you?? I encourage everyone to read Matt 13:24-30......when the harvest is ready where will you stand??
Sep 9, 2009 - Well...28 years ago today I came into this world. It's been an interesting ride so far, really cant complain. I pray god sees fit to bless me with many more years.
Aug 25, 2009 - Posted a new blog today entitled "Herd Mentality". It's a must read....well....at least I think so. lol Pray it blesses you!!!
Aug 24, 2009 - This past weekend I had the pleasure of singing background vocals for my boy Aaron Franklin. I can't begin to tell you how awesome this boys voice is, not only that but how sincere his HEART is for blessing Gods people with his gift. He truly wants people to worship the great God we serve and that type of attitude is infectious. I'm proud of him and look forward to seeing him grow as an artist and Christian. Love you fam!!!
Aug 11, 2009 - My church back home is having their Annual Convention right now in Atlanta. Ohhh, How I wish I was there!! But God's will and plan for my life is what's best. So I'm praying that the saints have a blessed time!! Keep me lifted saints of Zion, I love ya'll.
Aug 8, 2009 - I'm convinced God invented basketball....lol. Well at least I believe he served as an inspiration for it. It's such a release for me. I'm grateful God has allowed us as humans to enjoy certain things in this life. Not that we put those pleasures above him, but in their proper context they can enrich our lives here on earth. 1 Cor 10:31 tells us "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." So every jumpshot I shoot, I'm giving God the glory. lol
Aug 7, 2009 - There are moments in your life when you realize that you have no idea what you are doing...lol. It is at these moments that we realize we shouldn't be guiding the ship at all...Give it all over to God, let him lead the way.
Aug 6, 2009 - There's a scripture that God keeps bringing to my mind. It 's found in Romans 8:28...it reads "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." I'm thanking him for that scripture.
July 26 , 2009 - WOW...Last night was truly a very humbling experience. In a good way of course. I was able to witness just how great the God we serve is. The entire night was awesome!! From the Poets to the musical guests. Truly God was glorified that evening. I would like to thank each person who came out to support, I pray the CD blesses you!!
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My hero...my dad
Little about me
*2nd oldest of 6 kids
*Born in Tampa, FL
*Army Brat!!
*Has a killer Jumpshot
*Could survive on Gummi
Bears alone
*3 words, Fried Pork Chops
*Sleeps with the TV on
G to the Q
Mi Madre...miss you
What I'm About
Edifying and encouraging my brothers and sisters through music. (Col 3:16)
Great Links to help you grow :
RelevantBibleTeaching.com
Pulpit-Pimps.org
gotquestions.org
Biblegateway.com
Johnecoleman.org
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Second album from Sean C. Johnson
Label:NEW!!
Price:10
First Album from Sean C. Johnson
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Upcoming Shows
Neo-Soul Night feat. Sean Johnson
and Daniel Brown
5th St. Baptist Church
Oklahoma City, OK
11.06.09 - 9pm
Voices of Praise
11.14.09 - 6pm
"Fight of My Life Tour" Kirk Franklin
Fairview Missionary Baptist Church
11.22.09 - 6pm (FREE EVENT)
PRAISE Him 2009 feat Apaulsoul,
K-Praize,Exodus, Sean Johnson,
and more.
12.12.09 - 7pm
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View from The Back Pew
"Herd Mentality"
This past Sunday I decided to attend a friends church. I didnt want to go alone so I dragged my boy Skinny J with me to serve as a buffer and familiar face. We arrived at church right in the middle of praise and worship. We promptly ignored the usher and found a seat on the back pew. After she realized we werent going to move she offered us some fans and handed me a tithe envelope. I was about to hand it back to her before I realized I needed something to put my gum in. The church itself was a lot smaller than the church I regularly attend. The congregation was made up of mostly middle aged people with young adults and children sprinkled here and there. As we settled in I spotted my friend on stage leading the obviously impressed with my friends vocal stylings, leaned over to me and said If he was singing at our church the crowd would be shouting all over the place right now. I immediately handed Skinny a mint and asked him to repeat himself. After giving some thought to what he was saying I responded, Well, hes NOT at our church, but he IS still singing, whats stopping YOU from standing up and shouting right now?? Puzzled, Skinny sucked on his mint and went back to texting on his phone.
After service was over, I couldnt help but replay Skinnys comments in my head. It got me to thinking...what kept Skinny from getting up?? I mean there are times I question rather Skinny is actually saved, but over all I consider him to be a Christian. So being opposed to giving God praise wasnt the answer...what could it be?? Was it due to being in unfamiliar surroundings?? Naw, Ive seen Skinny act a Donkey in far more imposing settings, he's far from shy. So what was it?? After about thirty minutes of brainstorming I finally came to a conclusion...Skinny had the mind of a Cow. Not literally but figuratively in the sense that he followed the Herd. He adapted whatever mannerisms or behaviors he saw around him in order to fit in withthe Herd.
The official term for this type of behavior is...well... "Herd Mentality". It describes how people are influenced by their peers to adopt certain behaviors or follow trends. When it came to church settings Skinny did what he saw others do. Somebody starts reving-up the organ and picks up the tempo on the drums?? (Start Shouting). A vocalist hits a run using every note on the scale?? (Clap and tell him/her to sang). Somebody starts saying Blessed and Highly favored, Let Go, Let God, Favor aint Fair, Im the Head not the Tail, Whats good Doc, Professor, Bishop?? Actually I like that one, lol. (You pick it up and start saying it). Its almost like we are conditioned to react a certain way and we wont respond until we're directed to do so by an outside stimulus. Our church "etiquette" has become a learned behavior. Thats not to say that people aren't genuine, but take away the outside stimuli or peer pressure...Will we respond the same way?? Can we still give praise to God when the vocalist cant sing like Kim Burrell?? Do we need music to start shouting or worshiping God?? Can we stand up and clap even when were the only one standing?? Or will we continue to allow our surroundings to dictate how we react??
- Sean John
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"Simon Says"
Chances are if youve attended a Church service since 2001, youve witnessed what Ive dubbed the Pesky Neighbor style of preaching. You know, when the preacher decides he wants to play Simon Says in the middle of his sermon and repeatedly asks you to turn to your neighborrepeat some phrasegive them a hi-fivedo their taxespick up their kids from daycare, etc, etc.
While I can appreciate the effort to solicit crowd participation, Im not so sure this is the best method to employ in a church setting. First of all, nobody plays Simon Says anymore (at least not anybody over the age of 13). Secondly, Im usually late for church (which is why Im sitting on the back pew) and I often find myself seated next to someone I either dont know or dont care to know. Either way, when the Speaker/Pastor/Mand of Gawd goes into Call and Response mode Im forced to deal with an overzealous church member who insists on grabbing my arm and yelling in my face. Better yet, why cant the Pastor pull this stunt when Im seated next to a nice looking young lady?!?! Im all for a game of Simon Says then Yes Lord, Favor aint fair!!. Did you know that WWJD stands for Who Would Jesus Date?....Thank God for my haters!! . Sorry to bother you again, but I believe one of your ribs belongs to me. I mean come on Pastor Give me the assist!! Be my Pippen as I run game like Jordan. Lol
In all seriousness though, as one who has studied public speaking the interactive-audience participation method is severely overused. And unlike the Blood of Christ, when this technique is used too much it starts to lose its effectiveness. I can see using it once or twice a sermon, but Ive been in services where half the sermon was Turn to your neighbor, slap em in the faceand tell em OUCH that hurt. I understand you want to drive a point home, but a lot of times all it amounts to is more style than substance. Let your focus be rightly dividing the word of God, and lay the gimmicks to the side. Who cares if the crowd is worked up into a frenzy, are you giving them something that will save their souls from a ever-lasting hell fire?? Too many times emotionalism is given precedence over actually preaching the word. We want to leave church with an experience or encounter instead of being convicted to live a life of obedience thats pleasing in Gods sight. With that said, is anybody up for a game of God Says.??
"Never Would Have Made It"
Enough is enough people!! I swear by the Sword of He-Man if I attend another Workshop, Midnight Musical, or Revival and hear this songIm giving up the ghost. Right there on the spot, I promise you. Im going to lie down on the ground and stay there until Jesus comes and gets me.
Marvin Sapp, God bless his heart, who wrote Never Would Have Made It, is not to blame for this epidemic. How was he to know that a song, birth out of genuine turmoil in his personal life, would cause Mime Groups and Praise Teams around the world to lose their minds? Now dont get me wrong when it first hit the scene it was medicine to my soul to hear the first five words of that song uttered. But now, much like a friend who has overstayed his welcome, its time for that song to go.
I remember when I first noticed the symptoms of this widespread epidemic. I was performing at an event here in the city and there were a couple of Mime groups on the program. The first Mime group got up and danced to Never Would Have Made Itdid a good job (Pray that God was glorified)before they could get the paint off of their faces there was another Mime group up on the stage dancing to the SAME SONG!! My jaw hit the floor. Internally I was like Are you serious?? Boo!! Start over!! :-) To the audiences credit though, they were troopers and tried mightily to show the same enthusiasm that they showed for the group earlier. But what was plain to see, is that this epidemic had reached Threat Con Delta levels faster than anyone had expected.
This isnt the first time the church has dealt with this scenario. Remember when Kirk Franklin first hit the scene? Why We Sing made a cameo appearance at least once every Sunday. And who can forget Donnie McClurkins We Fall Down? I say we leave Donnie on the ground, and quit picking that song back up. Its almost an inevitable cycle. If a Gospel song becomes popular, the local church latches onto it and sings it into the ground.
But like every rule there are always exceptions to that rulecase in point, Richard Smallwoods Total Praise? That song STILL has some juice left in it. It has transcended into Gospel Hymn status. Its a staple now, like Amazing Grace or Jesus Loves Me. That song isnt going anywhere. And maybe after a couple of months of NOT hearing Never Would Have Made It at every event I attend I might change my stance on it. But until further notice as chairman of the Back Pew Im sitting on, I am here-by banning anyone other than Marvin Sapp from singing that song. And even hes on a 2 times a week limit. No exceptions. I will bite you in your ankles if I even think youre about to utter those five words. I beg of youtry me. To all the soundmen, if someone hands you a CD and tells you to play track number 4 and you play it and hear Never would have immediately pop the CD out and chunk it across the sanctuary. This is not a game people. The Back Pew has spoken
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