Conversation Peace: Improving Your Relationships One Word at a Time

by Mary A. Kassian

Have you ever left a conversation feeling like shredded wheat? Stuck your foot in your mouth? Been at a loss for words? Had difficulty getting your point across? Or been talked into doing something you didn’t want to do? Do you find it difficult to connect with others? Do you suspect that your speech patterns are hindering your relationships? Maybe you need some Conversation Peace!Let Mary Kassian teach you the seven powerful speech-transforming elements to master the skill of effective communications. You will also strengthen your vocabulary with Words from the Word. Conversation Peace will help you revolutionize your speech habits and improve your relationships.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian Non Fiction, Relationships, Christianity

272 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

About the author

Mary Kassian is an award winning author, popular speaker, and a distinguished professor of women’s studies at Southern Baptist Seminary. She has published several books, Bible studies and videos, including: Girls Gone Wise, In My Father’s House: Finding Your Heart’s True Home, Conversation Peace, Vertically Inclined, and the Feminist Mistake.

Mary graduated from the faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine from the University of Alberta, Canada and has studied systematic theology at the doctoral level. She has taught courses at seminaries across North America She is a popular conference speaker and has ministered to women’s groups internationally. Mary has appeared on numerous radio and television shows, including Focus on the Family, Family Life Today, and Marriage Uncensored.

Mary was born and raised in Edmonton, Canada. She and her husband, Brent, have three adult sons and one daughter-in-law. Mary has mastered the art of cheering after spending countless hours in rinks, arenas, and gyms: her husband is chaplain for a professional football team, her two older sons play ice hockey, and her youngest, volleyball. The Kassians enjoy biking, hiking, snorkeling (when they can find some warm water!), music, board games, mountains, campfires, and their family pets: Miss Kitty and black lab, General Beau.

Reviews

[Janelle]

Something I have found I have needed to work on a lot more recently is that is my speech and my tongue, especially when it comes to communicating with my husband. I know what the Bible has to say about the tongue, but so often I have found myself glossing over those verses. A few weeks ago I came across Conversation Peace by Mary A. Kassian at a used bookstore and decided to pick it up and go through it as a supplement to my personal Bible reading and study. Even though it does cover a lot of the usual verses about words and the tongue, Mary A. Kassian does a great job of breaking them down, as well as providing some good courses of action to improve how one speaks. She also explores all the different ways in which our speech can cause conflict, hurt others, and also be dishonorable to the Lord. I really liked how almost everything she talked about was saturated in Scripture and that she was not really grasping at straws. I will admit towards the end it got a little bit repetitive, but it was still really good. I highly recommend this one, even though it is an older book, if you are interested in learning more about working on how you communicate with others. This might be a stretch, but I really think that this book is just as good as any Spoken Communications text book that is out there.

[Deanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book while also working through the Bible study -- much of the book is in the study so both are not necessary. It was good, it made me pause to think with honesty and reflection. It made me pause and think about how I convey messages (positive and negative) with both body language and spoken word. It made me pause and think and realize as to how I - in my language - reflect Christ and that at times (too many time), I am not reflecting Him well. This study certainly, while not a line-by-line pouring into God's Word study, was one that has drawn me closer to God...it has given me another tool for being more aware and purposeful in how I live life, a life that I want to show is about God rather than about me.

[Šarūnė · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep digging read of words we say, our attitudes and a sense of control of others. Thought-provoking, brutally honest and inviting to search your heart kind of book.

"Whenever we enter a discussion with a goal of having others recognize our superior knowledge, strength, or greatness--and consequently push to have our opinion prevail--we put up a barrier" (p.130).

[Hanrong Tham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book that teaches you the elements of conversation peace. I like the "Tongue Tonic" sections which give out practical advice on how to handle different types of conversations.

[Jo Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is a lot of useful and helpful advice in this book regarding our role to improve connection and communication. I did find it a little overwhelming with all the acrostic examples and found it difficult to remember previous chapters when I was reading a new section. Overall, helpful tips and ideas about owning my part in “conversation peace.”

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Bible study on the tongue. While I really like the fact that practical strategies and techniques for communication were woven into each lesson, I thought there were too many acronyms to remember and actually too many techniques taught. Still, a good study.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ignore the cheesy title and cover. This book is full of so much truth. I will need to reread this one many times to fully soak in everything. Highly recommend.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of practical acronyms and truth yet fully focused on the fact that our heart must be fully surrendered to God before our words will change and reflect that.

[Gina]

I enjoyed this book & workbook. it has shown me the steps to take for improved speech & improved communications. I've learned about the power of navigation: take responsibility for your words, cause & effect: examine your heart, exchange: establish new patterns, the open gate: drop your defenses, construction: build others up, instruction: remain teachable, & return: enjoy the rewards & accept responsibility. The tools are excellent that we learn & can apply in all areas of life.

[Madelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

so often my mouth gets me in trouble. Will I ever learn? Mary Kassian has plenty of suggestions for improving the condition of our hearts and thus what flows out of them. She prompted lots of good discussion in my church group. I learned more than I ever wanted to know about sailing as she often used that for analogy. Now to put it all into practice!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good information and guidelines for controlling thoughts, words, and conversations with others. Lots of Bible verses to support the precepts taught in the book. This is definitely worth reading.

[Kayla Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

will challenge you in unexpected ways. . . must read

[Lynette Karg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Accessible, practical read. Some of the practical helps were drawn more from psychology than Scripture, but overall it is a helpful look at the Bible's instructions regarding our tongue.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could re-read this book once a year. This was my second time through it and I'd love for my entire family to do it together.

[Nancy]

Added March 7, 2015.

[Carrie Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of this was a little cheesy, but overall it was good and had a great message.