Wordpress query for sticky posts that are scheduled - php

Question

I am using the below query to show 4 most recent sticky posts in Wordpress.
<?php
$sticky = get_option( 'sticky_posts' ); // Get all sticky posts
rsort( $sticky ); // Sort the stickies, latest first
$sticky = array_slice( $sticky, 0, 4 ); // Number of stickies to show
query_posts( array( 'post__in' => $sticky, 'caller_get_posts' => 1 ) ); // The query
if (have_posts() ) { while ( have_posts() ) : the_post(); ?>
ALL OF MY OUTPUTTED CODE GOES HERE - EDITED OUT TO SAVE SPACE
<?php endwhile;?>
<?php } else { echo ""; }?>
<?php wp_reset_query(); ?>
This works great but if I have a scheduled sticky post (to appear at a future date), the query ignores it as one of the sticky posts and only shows 3 - not the 4 it should?
How can I modify below code to make sure no scheduled sticky posts show AND I still retain 4 slots for sticky posts?
UPDATED CODE BELOW SHOWS ALL POSTS - NOT JUST THE MOST RECENT 4 STICKY ONES.
<?php
$sticky = get_option( 'sticky_posts' );
$args = array(
'posts_per_page' => 4,
'post__in' => $sticky,
'paged' => 1,
'ignore_sticky_posts' => 1
);
if (have_posts() ) { while ( have_posts() ) : the_post(); ?>
ALL OF MY OUTPUTTED CODE GOES HERE - EDITED OUT TO SAVE SPACE
<?php endwhile;?>
<?php } else { echo ""; }?>
<?php wp_reset_query(); ?>

Answer 1

Limit the number of posts you return in the query, not by slicing the array.
From http://codex.wordpress.org/Class_Reference/WP_Query#Post_.26_Page_Parameters
$sticky = get_option( 'sticky_posts' );
$args = array(
'posts_per_page' => 4,
'post__in' => $sticky,
'ignore_sticky_posts' => 1
);
Take a look at the Codex reference above for examples of loops. Here's the gist of what you need.
// The Query
$the_query = new WP_Query( $args );
// The Loop
if ( $the_query->have_posts() ) {
echo '<ul>';
while ( $the_query->have_posts() ) {
$the_query->the_post();
echo '<li>' . get_the_title() . '</li>';
}
echo '</ul>';
} else {
// no posts found
}
/* Restore original Post Data */
wp_reset_postdata();
Notice how the new WP_Query accepts the args from above. In the code you posted you weren't doing anything with them.