St. Nicholas should be an inspiration to us all. He was a godly man whose reputation for giving to people caused him to be a revered example of what compassion and giving are all about. He was not a jolly, fat man who climbed down chimneys and he didn't have flying reindeer! Stories of his life - a life full of Christian beliefs and values - are the real background for today's mythical Santa Claus. So much of what Nicholas was - and what Santa Claus has become - has been distorted by Satan. What has been done to weaken and distort the testimony of this godly man is wrong. Born in Turkey in the third century, Nicholas was raised by Christian parents. From the time he was born in A.D. 280, they considered him a gift from God. They diligently taught him devotion to God and to be very generous to the poor. At 19, Nicholas was ordained a priest. His uncle, a bishop, prophesied that Nicholas would offer guidance and consolation to many people, and that he would eventually become a bi