Recently widowed Mary Fassler buys a Miniature Schnauzer, Rufus, and her world is turned sideways in the midst of her grief. It seems that Rufus speaks. And not just to her. He also talks to God. When Rufus begins sharing advice that could result in major changes, Mary gets the feeling the pooch might not be steering her in the right direction. Or, is she just afraid to take the leap and discover something she desperately needs? Only Rufus...and God...knows. "Jim Kraus has written a funny, heartfelt novel in the tradition of Garth Stein and John Grogan. For a long time dogs have been man's best friend. It only made sense one would finally come along to save our souls." - Rob Stennett author, Homemade Haunting and The Almost True Story Of Ryan Fisher "I loved this story. Quirky and unusual, this unique tale wove a spell around me and drew me in. It wasn't what I expected at all, and when I turned the last page, it left me wanting more." - Ane Mulligan, Sr. Editor of Novel Rocket " The Dog That Talked to God is a moving and powerful read, inspirational long after the last page has been turned." - New York Journal of Books A wonderfully quirky, heart-breaking, heart-warming and thought provoking story of a woman's dog who not only talks to her, he also talks to God. Jim Kraus grew up in Western Pennsylvania and is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. He attended the Paris-American Academy in 1971 and has spent the last twenty years as a vice-president of a major Christian publishing house. He has written more than 20 books and novels (many with his wife, Terri) including the best-selling The Dog That Talked to God (Abingdon Press, 2012). His book, The Silence, was named as one of the top five releases in 2004 by the Christian Book Review website. He is also an award-winning photographer. He and his wife and 14-year-old son live outside of Chicago with a sweet miniature schnauzer and an ill-tempered Siberian cat. The Dog That Talked to God By Jim Kraus Abingdon Press Copyright © 2012 Jim Kraus All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4267-4256-9 CHAPTER 1 Born in the wealthy enclave of Barrington, Illinois, in lateautumn, Rufus was the smallest pup in a litter of four—blackwith white highlights, white eyebrows and chest. The breeder,a precise woman with a lazy eye, said that as an adult, he wouldmost likely remain on the smallish side. That's a good trait fora miniature schnauzer. He had the look, even as a seven-week-old,of a polished, professional dog, holding a practiced dogshow stance—legs back, chest forward, eyes alert—all inheritedtraits, genetics at its best. But she said nothing about Rufus talking. Not just talking,but talking to God. In dog prayers, I imagine. Though, in her defense, I would guess that she was unawareof this unusual talent. And, also in her defense, if she knew of his abilities andhad mentioned, "Oh yes, Mrs. Fassler, and the runt of thelitter—the dog you want—well, he talks, and he claims hetalks to God." I mean, honestly, if she had said that, or anythingremotely like that, then odds are that the good dogRufus would not be sitting in the chair opposite me right now,watching me type. Perhaps if Rufus had been adopted into another home—ahome with an owner who wasn't lost and confused anddidn't need to be returned to the awareness of the existenceof God—he would not have bothered speaking at all, exceptto bark at the door to be let out. Even Rufus is not sure of thatpossibility. "I don't ask foolish questions, Mary," Rufus answered whenI asked him about the odds of him spending his life with me,rather than some other, more spiritually healthy person. But I digress. * * * I did not mean to cavalierly hurry past the most compellingelement of this story: the fact that Rufus talks to God. And hetalks to me—Rufus, that is, not God. Sometimes. It's hard to be nonchalant or blasé about such an ability, Iknow. But I cannot leap into this tale without returning to thebeginning. You need to know how all this came about. Youneed to know the origins of the story. After all, what would theBible be without Genesis and the garden of Eden? Confusing,to say the least, and most likely incomprehensible. Imaginethe Bible as a movie you walk into during the middle. You canmake up your own backstory, but it would all be just a guess.Admit it: without that opening scene, not much of the restwould contain any internal logic. As a child, I used to do that—walk into a movie theaterwhenever, and watch the film, sit through the ending, and waitfor the opening reel to start again until I would say to myself,"This is where I came in." It was easier years ago, before theage of googolplexes and corporate theater chains. Back in theday, each theater had one screen and would play the samemovie over and over, with only a cartoon and previews to separateone screening from another. Once I got to that point ofhaving seen a particular scene before, I would leave, satisfiedthat I saw the enti