I’ve mentioned that we’re in the process of moving and downsizing, requiring us to get rid of A LOT of stuff. In my case, that means books, theological and otherwise, that I’ve carried around for years. As an example, I have my dad’s collection of commentaries by Harry Ironside, a very popular preacher in his day. I don’t like commentaries in general but I do like Ironside – practical, not technical.

Hence, what to do? It seemed a shame to send them the way of my World Book Encyclopedia! I included some in a box of books I sent to my friend Josh Good who serves with Christian Endeavor, an international youth discipleship organization. I wrote to my friend Jason, the executive pastor of The Ascent Church to see if anyone there wanted them. Jason said that Jonathan, the youth pastor, was interested, but several days went by, no hear.

In the meantime, last Friday I walked up the street where our neighbors were having a garage sale to ask if I could put some things out with their stuff. While we were visiting, a guy came and bought a few books. As he left, I asked him what he was looking for. “Oh, just some books for my kids.” I said, “You’re in luck! I’m moving, and I have kids’ books. Come to my house.”

As we were walking in, I asked what he did. “I’m a preacher.” “Really? Where?” “The Ascent Church.” Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding! It wasn’t Jonathan who had expressed interest, it was Joel who had seen my email but hadn’t paid much attention to it. To make a long story short, he left not only with some books for his kids and their cousins, but with two boxes of my theology books, including all of my Ironside.

You can’t make this stuff up, and I couldn’t have orchestrated it any better. As I wrote yesterday, “You give stuff away, you make people happy.” And these are books that could go only to a very small target population.

God has gone before us each step of this move, and this is another example.

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. (Isaiah 30.21, NKJV)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3.5, 6, NKJV)

Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day. (Psalm 25.4, 5, NKJV)