In some places talking about Jesus can get you thrown into jail, especially if it looks like you want someone to start believing. So how do you go about responding to people who ask you why you believe if you live in an area where that conversation could put you in jeopardy?

One way is to use a specially configured portable computing device.

“What’s that?” you ask.

It’s usually a USB flash drive (aka thumb drive, jump drive, flash drive, etc.), a USB-attached external hard drive, or an iPod. It has been configured to secure all the files stored on it and run programs directly from the device. These programs do not need to be installed on the host computer in order to run. U3 is the most popular example of this. You may have already purchased a USB flash drive with U3 installed on it.

Someone can take one of these portable computing devices (once it has been properly configured), go to an Internet café, and communicate safely with someone who has submitted an email question to them about Jesus Christ. None of their files or Internet activity is left behind on the host computer. All of their files and programs leave with them as they walk out the door with their portable computing device in their pocket.

If the device has been sufficiently secured (beyond the easily foiled password protection of U3, for example), none of the files or programs can be read without supplying the password.

Sound like something you might find useful?

You can find out more about how to build one here. Most of the configurations are available for free.