Joseph Warren Kniskern - When the Vow Breaks

At last, a book about divorce that keeps its scriptural head while being all heart!...Written with the commitment of a Christian, the thoroughness of a lawyer, and the compassion of a reluctant divorcee, When the Vow Breaks is a unique cord of three strands.

F. LaGard Smith, author and professor of law
Pepperdine University

I found [When the Vow Breaks] to be extremely informative and helpful in understanding and ministering to those in the turmoil of a broken marriage. I also found the book to be unique in that I have not seen a similar book that addresses the subject of a marriage in distress from both a biblical and legal perspective.

Robert F. O'Malley, Jr., attorney

Sensitive, caring, compassionate, reasonable, and practicalfrom an attorney who cares.

Rusty Wright, author and lecturer
Campus Crusade for Christ

I sincerely wish I had Warren's book at the time of my own divorce. I can also think of hundreds of clients over the years who could have benefitted greatly from this book.

Nancy S. Palmer, attorney
199394 Florida Bar Family Law Section Chairperson

I see a very practical and dynamic place for Mr. Kniskern's book on the shelves of many professionals. This is a carefully designed resource for marriage and divorce counseling which compiles some of the best material from the legal, psychotherapeutic, and spiritual points-of-view . Because this material is presented like nothing else in print, I personally commend this book for your careful consideration.

Dr. Kieth A. Mitchell
Metro-Dade Office of Rehabilitative Services

Warren's book...is exceptionally well-researched, thorough, and very well written. Warren has done a masterful job of looking at the topic from every angle...It is one thing to read a book to get information. It is another thing to read a book to find comfort and hope. This book does both. The much needed facts are there, but so is the power and encouragement of God's love and grace.

Charles M. Lee, Ph.D.
Director, Life Resources Center of Miami

Mr. Kniskern has done extensive research of the scriptures and other facts, and thus the information he gives is not only credible but trustworthy . This is such a valuable asset, as lay persons are given helpful advice to take them through the complicated legal process which usually results from a divorce.

Karlene Punancy, attorney

This book is lovingly dedicated to:

The Bride of My Youth

with special inscription
to my good friend and brother in Christ,

Dr. Kieth A. Mitchell

This book would not have been possible without the unselfish service and encouragement of these good people who are among my dearest family and friends: Chris Anderson, Kathy Barnes, Chuck Bryant, Elise S. Kniskern, Wayne F. Kniskern, Diane Mitchell, Dr. Rex Moorer, Marjorie Owen-Baillie, Sylva Neubauer, Karlene Punancy, Hugh M. Turner, Esq., and Peggy Wilson.

Special recognition and gratitude also go to Dr. Charles M. Lee, Juan D. Milian, Janis Whipple, and Lawrence Kimbrough.

Steve Grissom

Dianne didn't want to come to our DivorceCare group. She didn't want to be identified with divorce in any way, even though she was a single mother, and yes, she was divorced.

I coaxed. I encouraged her to come, explaining how much the group would help her. After months of trying, Dianne reluctantly agreed to try the group. The next words out of her mouth were poignant and representative of so many hurting people who find themselves in the process of divorcing. I'll be easy to spot, said Dianne. I'll be the one with a brown paper bag over my head!

Are you like Dianne? Are you embarrassed that your marriage has unraveled? Do you feel like an outcast, believing that no one could possibly understand what you are going through?

If you are a Christian, you may feel that you have let God down, or that you are guilty of a something that will forever put a barrier between you and Him.

When the Vow Breaks is one of the most helpful books we recommend to people who participate in DivorceCare groups. It is packed with practical advice on what to expect as you (or someone you know) goes through the divorce process. It contains great information about God's perspective on divorce as found in the Bible.

Best of all, it is written from the perspective of a man who lived through and survived divorce himself. But added to that personal experience, Warren Kniskern brings a unique additional dimension to When the Vow Breaks. His career as an attorney helps him guide you through the legal labyrinth that inevitably accompanies separation and divorce. He does so in a way that helps a Christian construct a godly, biblical response to the adversarial nature of family law, (a misnomer of grand proportions). There is no other book out there that better equips Christians to understand, navigate and survive the legal process in a God-honoring way.

We like this book so much that we invited Warren Kniskern to join the roster of experts that appear within the DivorceCare videos shown as part of each DivorceCare group. Warren is genuine, knowledgeable, and cares deeply for people going through the divorce experience. His compassion is clear as he appears on the videos. Thousands of DivorceCare groups are meeting around the world and enjoying his advice. The problem is, of course, that the video format limits the amount of time we can devote to the topics Warren covers. You need to read When the Vow Breaks to benefit from the depth and breadth of his counsel.

As you go through divorce, you wrestle with a numbing, jumbled mix of emotions. Part of what make this book special is that it addresses so many divorce issues.

Maybe you are not at all like Dianne, who I mentioned above. Maybe you are like Don, who was hungry for help when he showed up at the support group. I was ripped apart. I felt like my whole life was gone. I came running to the support group, he said. If you are feeling like Don, you'll find comfort in When the Vow Breaks.

Perhaps you are like Joanne, who was filled with rage. I wanted to hurt him as badly as he hurt me, she admitted to her support group quite candidly. I'm sure you know that anger and unforgiveness can destroy you. When the Vow Breaks will show you how to resolve these destructive emotions.

The list of topics goes on, including issues related to your children as well as practical advice on how to deal with your finances during and post-divorce. You'll find actionable, nuts-and-bolts help within these pages. Whether your marriage is restored or you find yourself divorced, your life going forward will be healthier and more joyful by following the advice in When the Vow Breaks.

Through the years, in the process of working with him, Warren has become a dear personal friend. I believe you'll count him as your friend as well when you get to know him through this book and are helped by his wise and encouraging words.

Steve Grissom, Founder

DivorceCare (divorce recovery support groups)

www.divorcecare.org

For more information on DivorceCare, please see page 438.

Kieth A. Mitchell

It is my privilege and pleasure to introduce this Christian attorney, to endorse his central position on marriage and divorce, and to emphasize the spiritual and practical benefits that can come from reading this major resource volume. As a mental health professional, I especially appreciate Warren's attention to the details of coping with separation and divorce, an element often missing from other divorce resources.