Shalom, you are early this year, inviting me to write for your music blog last month in November 2025. I think I will pen some of my recent lateral thoughts and meditation. Your invitation gives me another chance to worship God... thank you for the opportunity.
The Hebrews consider Bible study as the highest form of worship for God... singing is basically preparing the heart to worship.
Wishing you and your family a Blessed Joyous Christmas, good health and a Happy New Year 2026.
Shalom and Best Regards,
Phil.
Dear Phil,
It's a very distinctive paper but you have made it an easier read for a simple folk like me. I must thank you for writing the Christmas messages and selective songs that have been popularly accepted through the years by many of our readers. Counting the articles, it is the twelfth one you've composed, complete with the downloads of carols and hymns from YouTube.
Yours Sincerely,
Andy.
Some Lateral Thoughts and Meditation for Christmas 2025.
Why do we have turkey at Christmas dinner celebrations?
In Hebrew, turkey is called הודו (hodu). The term hodu is both the biblical word for India and a Hebrew root meaning give thanks or praise, as in Hodu laAdonai ki tov (Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good). Hebrews sometimes play on this double meaning, noting both turkey and thanksgiving, which fits beautifully with themes of gratitude in both Thanksgiving and Biblical faith.
The reason turkey sits on Christmas tables is chiefly historical and practical, the Hebrew name hodu, thanksgiving, and praise has rich symbolism for Christians to reflect on during this season of gratitude, Hanukkah (John 10:22-2 documents it as the Feast of Dedication), and the celebration of Christ’s coming.
What are Christians grateful for?
Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. What is this government?
Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. To achieve this Kingdom, Jesus preached the Gospel.
So, what is the Christian Gospel, sometimes known as Good News (NIV)?
Mark 1:1-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
What is the Gospel?
Perhaps it may be more insightful to ask the reverse question, what is not the Gospel of Jesus?
The Gospel of the kingdom of God (“Good News”) is not a moral improvement program or a set of religious checklists or a performance-based system where we strive to earn divine approval or a fear-based message that manipulates through guilt, shame, or anxiety. It is not a transaction where human obedience begets God’s grace.
All of these are distortions that reduce grace to regulations and transactional type of relationships. Paul’s entire argument in Galatians and Romans defends this freedom: “Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3). If a message exhausts rather than restores, enslaves rather than liberates, it is not The Good News Gospel - it is, perhaps bad news in disguise.
The True Nature of the Gospel
The Gospel at its core is God’s act to restore communion with humanity through Jesus Christ (Messiah). It is God’s initiative, not our achievement. God comes to us; not we are reaching out to Him. (John 1:14, Philippians 2:6–8). God loves us first, while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8). God reconciles and not after we fix ourselves, but in our brokenness, God transforms, not through obligation, but through adoption and relationship. This is why it is right to call the relationship sonship and daughter ship. The appropriate response is not fear or striving, but relational trust.
Transformation, Not Transaction
The transformation of the Gospel is reflected in Jesus’ teaching. In the parable of the prodigal son, the father doesn’t wait for the son to clean up his life. He runs to embrace him while he is still far off. The son’s confession flows from having already been received.
Grace precedes repentance; salvation generates transformation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDNWM7RsqI4
The Finished Work and the Covenant:
The Gospel is not a contract, which depends on mutual performance, but actually a covenant sealed by God’s own faithfulness in Christ (Hebrews 8–10). Our salvation rests on His obedience, not ours. Repentance is not the cause of forgiveness but its fruit — the turning of a forgiven heart towards the Forgiver.
That’s the “Good News”: God, through Christ, has done everything necessary for our reconciliation with God the Father and Creator of the Universe. What remains is for us to believe, receive, and rest in His love.
Jesus came to reveal God, the Father and Creator
John 17:6, 25-26: I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world... O righteous Father, although the world has not known You, yet I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me; and I have made Your Name known to them, and will make it known, so that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.
Finally, Jesus’ Gospel According to Paul:
According to the Apostle Paul, the Gospel is the message of grace and love fully accomplished in Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1–4). Christ died for our sins — the finished work of redemption. He was buried, confirming His death. He rose again — guaranteeing new life for all who believe.
This is not an offer to “try harder” (many of us may have mistaken) but a complete rescue received by faith. The Good News is that salvation is God’s gift, not our achievement - it is Jesus alone and nothing else. Repentance in this light is not the price we pay for salvation but the response of a heart that finally feels safe in God’s love. It is the change of mind (metanoia) from unbelief to trust in Christ’s finished work.
When one truly accepts the Gospel, fear and striving cease. We realize we are already loved by the Creator God, forgiven, and included as sons and daughters in God’s kingdom. As Romans 12:2 says, Transformation begins through the renewing of the mind - awakening to the truth that the Father’s love is already ours.
Christmas Posture of the Heart:
This Christmas invites a posture not of fear or striving, but of restful, grateful joy in The One who came near to us in love. Having a carefree, thankful heart towards Jesus aligns perfectly with the Good News: loved, accepted, and welcomed home as sons and daughters.
Celebration with Food and loved Ones:
Sharing “choice food, turkey meals and wine” with loved ones becomes more than just tradition when it overflows from gratitude. It becomes a lived parable of grace: abundance instead of scarcity, fellowship instead of isolation, joy instead of fear. May our dinner table this Christmas 2025 be a small foretaste of the Kingdom feast - full of Shalom peace, joyous laughter, and heartfelt thanksgiving to the Father through Jesus.
Isaiah 25:6 "LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine - the best of meats and the finest of wines." (NIV).
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Acknowledgement: I have drawn inspiration from Ps. M. Ledbetter.
Wishing Everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New 2026.
28 comments:
Years ago,during the Chinese New Year period, I was touring Jerusalem with my church group. On the first day of the Lunar New Year we had a praise and worship session. One of the songs we sang was 'Todah! Todah!'
The todah sacrifice was a Thanksgiving sacrifice (Christ our Redeemer) offered under the Mosaic law (Lev 7:11)
Now thank you Andy for showing me why they have the turkey sitting on the Thanksgiving table.
שָׁלוֹם
Very good article Joe Thambiah
Dear Phil. Another enlightening piece from yourself and I am happy that your friend Andy continues with this very delightful Christmas tradition.
Beautiful reflection. I will share with my colleagues. Have an enjoyable Christmas.
Good morning, Phil. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and dedication. Grateful to God for Jesus who has died on the cross to redeem all Man. Thank Him for the opportunity to share His good news!! Alfred
Prof Phil Chan.. I read it.. what an inspirational piece.. can I forward to my sisters who are Christians too … they will enjoy it as much as I did .. excellent 👍👍🙏🏻
Dear Prof Chan, thank you for the wishes and wishing you and your family a wonderful christmas and happy new year too! May it be full of love, joy and blessings! 🥰
Dear Prof Chan,
Thank you for the Christmas wishes—Merry Christmas and a blessed 2026 to you and your family as well.
I read your writings on your senior friend’s blog. Your proposition of the Gospel as transformation rather than transaction gave me much to reflect on—will meditate on it over Christmas. Shalom.
Again many thanks for all who wrote in on this Chrismas Day. I shall try to post as many messages as I can before the season is over.
Hi, Andy, in a week's time, the year 2025 will soon be over !! Today, 25.12.25 is Christmas Day, the last public holiday of the year. i wish you and your loved ones a very Merry and Blessed Chritmas. Keep well and in good health. Always.
It was a lovely article, which beautifully reminds its readers of the free, unearned, undeserved, unmerited, and amazing grace of God, found only in the true gospel of Jesus Christ. The gift of Jesus, and His perfect righteousness is indeed a reason for which we can rejoice in and celebrate this Christmas. 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing your article and your insights on the gospel through scripture passages.
I like your emphasis on how the gospel is not a contract but a covenant sealed by God's own faithfulness.
It is interesting too, to read about the significance of turkey - gratitude/thanksgiving.
Blessed Christmas to you and your family. Mg sh
Others who responded
Lee KW 🙏
Jennifer T ❤️
David T 👍
Chen G 👍
William 🙏
John C ❤️
Jamie C ❤️
Nancy ❤️
John T 👍
Koh EH 🙏
Au MC 👍
Victor F 👍
Again many thanks to PHIL,’s friends who took time to write in. Hope you all have a pleasant and bounty season.
Many more comments are coming so allow us some time to slot them in. I shall list the names of readers and friends who sent CHRISTMAS, NEW YEAR GREETINGS soon.
THANKS AGAIN EVERYONE.
HI FL
HOPE YOU CAN SEE ME DOWN HERE. YOU’RE A VERY SPECIAL PERSON, HAVING SUPPORTED THIS BLOG FOR SO MANY YEARS. I MUST THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR LETTER AND THE SEASON’s GREETINGS. YOUR KINDLY WAYS TO ALWAYS WRITE IN AND COMMENT ON OUR 60s MUSIC SITUATION HAS ALWAYS BEEN SO HELPFUL N INFORMATIVE. 👏🙏🙏🙏
The 60s era were a wild time for music in Singapore, with the British rock invasion inspiring many local musicians to start their own bands. The Beatles , the Shadows and The Rolling Stones' visits definitely left a mark. As a result of their influence local band’s started to play music that made the big three British bands famous.
Those original pop bands actually shape a generation's of Singapore 🇸🇬 identity and culture. Their impact is still felt today, with their legacy continuing to inspire new musicians because local pop music started from them.
One of the more notable band is the Singapore 60s is The Silver String which Andy is a member.
Andy Young's work as a writer and historian of local pop music is truly remarkable! 😊 His blog is like a treasure trove of Singapore's music history, covering bands from the early 60s to the present day.
His attention to details is meticulous because he does fact check before he published any articles.
As a result his work is widely respected and referenced by local authorities like the National LIBRARY Board (archives).
By bridging the gap between older and younger generations, Andy's blog helps people appreciate Singapore's pop music heritage. His dedication to chronicling the local music scene has made his blog a go-to resource for millions worldwide.
😲Again thank you PAT for the letter above which you’ve sent direct to this Christmas post. This blog is only fun and games but hope to use it as a blog article soon considering the accolades bestowed. If SG were still a BRITISH Colony, I’d probably acquire a knighthood with this well articulated piece. ☺️🙏
Many, many thanks to the following friends for their SEASON’s GREETINGS on WA. Can’t thank you guys enough for the encouraging message posters and videos too.
RONALD HO
CLARENCE PERERA
MERLIN LIM
RICHARD THAM
FABIAN FOO
CHARLIE YAP
CEDRIC COLLARS
CHEW HEE HONG
HORACE WEE
CEDRIC CORK
VINCENT TAN
JIMMY PRESLEE
SAMMIN ANG
JIMMY YAP
JAMES KWOK
JIMMY CHNG
RICHARD RAJOO
RICKY WONG
IVOR LESSLAR
JOHNNY YEO
JERRY FERNANDEZ
STEVE HO
OLIVER B.
TAN SOO KHOON
SWEE L. TAN
DANNY KOH
LARRY LAI
PATRICK TENG
DAVID WONG
EDDY ENG
JOHN LIM
MD JALANI
DANNY BOY
PAUL IBRAHM
ALFRED NG
MARK QUEK
JAMES HO
WINSTON KOH
Still some more coming in…
SPECIAL Thanks to:
FREDA HANUM
for creating a Blog Xmas Greeting poster specially for me🙏
Special thanks to
MICHAEL BANGAR
for creating a Xmas Card specially sent to my home.
Hi Prof Chan!
Thank you for sharing your post again! It was a good reflection and reminder for me this morning summing up our response to the Gospel as relational trust. It brought a renewed perspective for me when I sing yet not I but through Christ in me again.
Have a blessed week and New Year celebration! GLADIS
Hello Andy,
Wishing you and your family every happiness at Christmas and every blessing in 2026.
Warmest and fondest,
Jane
I hope all is well with each of you and all those you love. I hope too that you are enjoying a relaxing and joyful holiday season and wish you a Merry Christmas and/or Happy Hanukkah and/or just a fine time.
Last winter was bitterly cold, with lots of shovelling, and a slow thaw into spring. Summer was a mix of intense heat, unseasonable cold snaps, and wildfire smoke that (sadly) kept me indoors much of the time. Autumn was lovely, long and mostly gentle. The first snow fell November 29; now the world is white and glowing, and the darkness has been leavened.
Summer and early fall were brightened significantly by visits from family and friends from far away. Happy outings, fine meals, long walks, and wonderful conversations.
Thank you.
[letter has been edited]
MERRY CHRISTMAS N HAPPY NEW 2026.
THANKS FOR YOUR SEASON’s GREETING:
ALVIN TAN (MP)
JANE DICK (CANADA)
JEAN GRANGER (FRANCE)
SEE CS
JERRY SARAM
YANG (NANYANG OP.)
LAURENCE LIM
LIM JIAK KIM
CHRISTOPHER TOH
YEO CHOON MENG
XUAN YAN
TRACY NG
VICTOR LAM
GEORGE CHEW
DAISY CHEW
HAPPY TAY
STEPHEN FRANCIS
and many others whom I might have missed.
Thanks so much for sharing this inspirational and holy Christmas article by Dr Phil Chan, Andy... The songs are really beautiful...Will share it in my fb page ...I also like to share with you Andy, I once edited for Michael Goh's one of his song from mp3 converted into video format so he's able to share in social media like FB and Youtube, 'Oh Holy Night' beautifully sung. I remembered I collected so many holy pictures just to edit this song...enjoy 😊
Wish you a very happiest Merry Christmas Andy and all your loved ones at home, may God bless you always🙏🎄🎄❤️
Thanks Freda for your inspirational comment. Apologies that my original reply has been accidentally deleted and your comment wrongly named.
Thank you all so much for the encouraging comments. I am sure Phil, cool as he is, will be thrilled to read them. I am on the move everyday so I may not be able to post time and again. I shall do my best to check comments asap.
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