The Bible tells us, "There is a time for everything." But how unusual to be living in a time when messages of peacekeeping come from our generals. Instead of prophets calling upon us to beat our swords into plowshares, it is now our military generals calling upon a pastor, asking him not to turn a book of religion into a weapon of assault by burning it in disrespect. There is prophecy in speaking, and prophecy in listening. Surely this is a time for prophetic listening to the wise warning issued by Gen. David Petraeus, to the requests for respect spoken by those in religions other than our own, and to the world's (and our own) deep longing for peace.

KAREN HERING, HUDSON, WIS.