Many of my Protestant friends are surprised to learn that I observe Lent.  Some will say “I didn’t know you had a Catholic background.”   I don’t have a Catholic background, I have a Christian background and whether or not we Protestants like to admit it Lent is a part of our church history.  I am surprised that so many of my Protestant friends are willing to ignore a season in the church in which prayer and fasting are a regular part of daily life.  It seems to me that today in our church culture we place little value on prayer and fasting as integral to our spiritual growth and therefore we see no reason to spend a period of time committed to daily prayer, Bible study, and fasting.  As a pastor I place great value on spiritual growth and therefore I encourage everyone to get involved in Lent.