Tag: fashion

Fashion Sense and the Video Pastor

Post author By Kevin Spear
Post date September 21, 2020

Cartoon of a speaker in a garish outfit. He says, "For those of you joining us online, please comment on something besides my fashion sense." — ©2020 Kevin Spear. Published in the September 2020 CHOGNews

Welcome to the modern world of fashion and the video pastor. It’s a challenging time for them. Not only must they learn how to post video sermons, but they can be critiqued by a world-wide audience for their fashion sense.

I have a fascination with gaudy fashion.

I suppose it’s because I would be a tacky dresser if it wasn’t for my wife. From the moment we started getting serious, she seriously pared down my wardrobe. She made it socially acceptable in no time.

I blame my fashion sense on the eighties. It was a time of hot pink, neon green, and weird shapes. It was the decade that brought us parachute pants, vinyl jackets, and leg warmers. I was way too impressionable back then.

Unfortunately, there are plenty of pastors my age that may have taken their fashion cues from the eighties as well. Social media isn’t kind to these poor souls. People will make comments on a YouTube or Facebook Live video that they would never say to a pastor’s face.

There is a bright side to the brutal honesty of social media. In a traditional, in-person service, congregants will frequently keep their comments to themselves. It is only the rare, crusty church patriarch or matriarch that would comment on a pastor’s sermon… or his/her fashion for that matter. But social media loosens the tongues of the shy congregants. Sure, a pastor may wince at the comments, but at least they know what the majority think of his new green and red, polka dot tie.

I drew this for the September 2020 CHOGNews.

Tags church cartoons, fashion, pastor cartoon, social media, video

CHOG News church cartoons motivation Newsletters

Remote Work Makes Every Day Casual Friday

Post author By Kevin Spear
Post date April 17, 2020

Cartoon of a man in a bathrobe and an annoyed women. The wife says, "When we get to go to church again, this WON'T be your new church look." — Published in the April 2020 CHOGNewsletter

If you have been working from home, have you found that every day has become casual Friday? I thought of this cartoon idea because I knew Easter Sunday was coming. It’s a time when churchgoers get dressed up. This year was quite different from the past. It was far different than Irving Berlin’s old song.

I didn’t look quite as bad as the guy in my cartoon. Still, it was far more casual than past Easters. I heard stories of people dressing up anyway for the holiday. I would say they probably felt better and it helped lift their spirits. I will have to try it this weekend.

If you have been working remotely and have been a little down in the dumps, it may help to get dressed up as if you were going to your workplace or for an event. In the meantime, I know we’re all looking forward to the day when we can get out their and parade in our Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it.

I drew this cartoon for the April 2020 CHOGNewsletter.

Tags cartoon, Casual Friday, church cartoon, Church of God Ministries, Church of God Newsletter, couples cartoon, Easter, Easter morning, fashion, Remote work

children's ministry cartoons motivation

Why We Need Others to Make Progress

Post author By Kevin Spear
Post date February 25, 2020

Cartoon of a guy dressed in bright, gaudy clothes and wearing a lampshade. A boy says to his dad, "Does our family ministry include Crazy Uncle Carl?" — Previously published in "Kidzmatter" Magazine

If it wasn’t for my wife, I would probably be that crazy uncle in my cartoon. The shirt that Crazy Uncle Carl wears reminds me of a hot pink shirt I had in the eighties. And those striped, neon green pants? Well, I may not have had them, but I would have bought them in a heartbeat! The lampshade would have attracted my design “sensibilities” as well.

If my wife didn’t come along at just the right time, my wardrobe may have remained stuck in the eighties and the course of history would have changed forever.

When our relationship started getting serious, she began purging my wardrobe. The obnoxious colors, old t-shirts and corduroy pants had to go. On the outside, I wasn’t very happy. But I knew she had good fashion sense and she was saving me from a life of being that crazy, single uncle.

We all have blind spots. If you think hot pink and neon green go together, your blind spot may be quite large. We need each other to make progress. We also need others to help us see where we are weak and to show us how we can make progress.