I'll Be A Fool for You, Jesus, Stories Behind the Songs

This song really is a very early Christian song that I wrote. I committed my life the Lord in 1965, the 17th of October to be exact. My life was radically dramatically and eternally transformed. Still haven’t gotten over it. I don’t think you’re supposed to.

Think back to ’65 with me if you will, those who view that were around then… – Contemporary Christian music wasn’t yet even a term – Christian radio and TV as we know it now barely existed – The Jesus movement in the late 60s early 70s hadn’t happened yet.

When I gave my life to Jesus, experienced that transformation but then began to try to explain to my friends what had happened, because they noticed quite a difference, it was like speaking a foreign language.

I remember one of my very best friends came up to the day after I’d given my life to Jesus, he was actually the drummer in the band were playing with at the time, and said, “we have some dates in Iowa we’re supposed to play, is that going to work out?” I said, “Well, it’s really not.” He looked at me and said, “Oh why, what’s wrong?” I told him I gave my life to Jesus. He just looked at me, incredibly puzzled.

He finally, kind of jokingly said, “You’ve you’ve lost your mind. You’re a fool.” And I thought about that for a while and wrote a song that I’m pretty sure he’s never heard.

I think it was Jim Elliot, the missionary martyr down in Ecuador in 1956, that said, “He is no fool who gives that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

Scripture says that “If I gave the whole world and lose my own soul what does it profit me? What can a man give in exchange for his soul?” It’s a kind of a cute little song with little country feel but there’s a very very profound message in there.

I encourage you as you live for Jesus – if you really live for Jesus and truly stand for Christ – there is a price to pay. It goes against the grain of the way of the world and there will be those that say, “Man what’s wrong with you? You’ve lost your mind.” But Jesus said, “They hated me and they’ll hate you.”

It’s what we signed up for but there’s great joy in the journey and God will give us strength.

So live for Jesus, be a fool for Jesus, take whatever it takes and stand for him and be true.